title: C-peptide response to glucagon in black and Indian insulin-dependent diabetics.
abstract: Residual beta cell function was estimated in 35 young diabetic patients (25 Blacks and 10 Indians) and 22 controls by means of C-peptide assays using glucagon as a provocative agent. The basal C-peptide levels (mean 0,32 +/- 0,23 nmol/l) and the 6-minute post-glucagon levels (mean 0,56 +/- 0,47 nmol/l) were significantly lower in the diabetic patients than in the controls (mean values 0,49 +/- 0,20 nmol/l and 1.24 +/- 0,48 nmol/l respectively). None the less, residual beta cell function, as gauged by the presence of significant C-peptide increments in response to glucagon provocation (mean increase 75% of basal level), was present in most of the patients. The Black patients had significantly lower basal and 6-minute post-glucagon C-peptide levels than the Indian patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D010455:Peptides; D005934:Glucagon