title: Beta-cell function and metabolic control in insulin treated diabetics.
abstract: In a random one day study beta-cell function was evaluated in 210 insulin treated diabetics by the serum C-peptide concentration 6 min after iv injection of 1 mg of glucagon. Sixty-five patients (31%) had residual beta-cell function. As a group these patients were characterized by having a higher age at onset of diabetes (P less than 0.01), a shorter duration of disease (P less than 0.01) and by receiving a smaller dose of insulin (P less than 0.01). However, their quality of metabolic control did not differ from the patients without beta-cell function. Although the concentrations of post-stimulatory C-peptide correlated inversely with both the 24-hour glycosuria (P less than 0.01) and the fasting blood glucose concentrations (P less than 0.02), only a subgroup with C-peptide concentrations exceeding 0.30 pmol/ml showed a definitely better degree of metabolic control than those without beta-cell function. As this subgroup also received the smallest dose of insulin these observations suggest that maintenance of beta-cell function above this level facilitates good metabolic control. Evidence is presented suggesting that measurements of the 24-hour glycosuria undertaken in a diabetes clinic create a too optimistic impression of the quality of metabolic control during every day life.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006029:Glycosuria; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin