Plasma insulin response to oral glucose tolerance test in type-2 Nigerian diabetics.
OBJECTIVE
To study the plasma insulin pattern in type 2 diabetic Nigerians both in the fasting state and in response to a standard oral glucose tolerance test.


METHODS
A cross sectional study.


METHODS
Diabetic clinic, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria.


METHODS
Forty type 2 diabetic patients and thirty six healthy age and sex matched control subjects was undertaken.


METHODS
Eligible patients and control subjects underwent a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Plasma levels of glucose and insulin levels determined by a glucose oxidase method and ELISA techniques respectively. Student's t-test was used to compare continuous variables, Chi-square test for categorical variable and Pearson's correlation coefficient to define correlation between variables. The level of statistical significance in each case was taken as P < 0.05.


RESULTS
Type 2 diabetic patients demonstrated significantly lower fasting plasma insulin levels, when compared to control subjects (4.20+/-1.78 micro- units/ml vs 5.72+/-2.16 micro - units/ml respectively p<0.05). Similarly, plasma insulin levels following oral glucose challenge were significantly lower in the type 2 diabetic population.


CONCLUSIONS
Type 2 diabetic patients in this study demonstrate both fasting post OGTT hypoinsulinaemia. These findings are discussed in the light of the available knowledge on the aetiopathogenesis of type-2 diabetes mellitus in Africans.
Bakari
A G
AG
Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
Onyemelukwe
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin