Counterregulatory hormones in insulin-treated diabetic patients admitted to an accident and emergency department with hypoglycaemia.
The aim of the study was (1) to describe hormone responses in insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and (2) to investigate if a combined treatment with intravenous glucose and intramuscular glucagon (group A) would improve glucose recovery as compared to treatment with intravenous glucose alone (group B). Eighteen adult patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department with hypoglycaemia (plasma glucose 1.23 +/- 0.15 mmol l(-1) on admission) were randomized to one of the above treatments and plasma glucose and counterregulatory hormones were measured before and 30-120 min after treatment. Pre-treatment counterregulatory hormone concentrations were significantly lower than hormone concentrations during induced hypoglycaemia in healthy control subjects but significantly higher than healthy fasting concentrations for plasma adrenaline (p = 0.020), glucagon (p = 0.008), growth hormone (p = 0.011), and cortisol (p<0.00001). Thus, although glucagon and adrenaline responses may be absent when studying Type 1 diabetic patients in the experimental setting, both hormones increase to a significant extent in 'real-life' hypoglycaemia in this patient group, although to a lesser degree than might be expected. Plasma glucose did not differ significantly between the two treatments at any time point. Despite access to food, one of four patients in group B and one of five patients in group A had plasma glucose below 4.0 mmol l(-1) after 120 min. In conclusion, low yet significantly elevated concentrations of adrenaline and glucagon were found in diabetic patients admitted with severe hypoglycaemia to an Accident and Emergency Department.
Hvidberg
A
A
Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
Christensen
N J
NJ
Hilsted
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine