title: Glucagon and hyperglycaemia in diabetes.
abstract: Glucagon, in the setting of absolute or relative insulin deficiency, is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia in diabetes, but much of the evidence is extrapolated from short-term studies to the long-term condition. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Li and co-workers report that infusion of glucagon raised fasting plasma glucose concentrations and impaired glucose tolerance over 4 weeks in mice, thus demonstrating a sustained glycaemic effect of hyperglucagonaemia. Nonetheless, compelling evidence that glucagon contributes to the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia in diabetes awaits long-term selective reduction of glucagon secretion or action in humans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, 660 South Euclid Ave, MO 63110, USA. pcryer@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cryer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting; D005934:Glucagon / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon