Pancreatic cancer is associated with impaired glucose metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate glucose metabolism and insulin secretion on patients with pancreatic cancer compared with healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
Linköping University Hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
44 consecutive patients referred for radical operations for pancreatic carcinoma, and eight healthy age and sex matched volunteers.


METHODS
Hyperglycaemic glucose clamp in 36 of patients and all volunteers.


METHODS
Glucose tolerance according to WHO criteria, plasma insulin and C-peptide concentrations, and insulin secretion measurements both during hyperglycaemia and after stimulation by glucagon.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients (75%) had either impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. Fasting insulin concentrations were raised in the non-insulin-requiring diabetic patients, but similar in the insulin-requiring group compared with healthy control subjects and patients with normal glucose tolerance. In neither diabetic group was insulin secretion affected during hyperglycaemia. After stimulation with glucagon, insulin secretion increased in non-insulin-requiring diabetic patients but remained unchanged in those who required insulin. Glucose metabolic capacity and whole body insulin sensitivity were reduced in patients with diabetes and with impaired glucose tolerance, and the reduction was more pronounced in diabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high incidence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in patients with pancreatic cancer, which cannot be explained by impaired secretion of insulin. Other factors that reduce insulin sensitivity seem to have a role in the development of diabetes in this group of patients.
Permert
J
J
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
Ihse
I
I
Jorfeldt
L
L
von Schenck
H
H
Arnqvist
H J
HJ
Larsson
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose