title: Seasonal variations of insulin sensitivity from a euglycemic insulin clamp in elderly men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seasonal variations in hemoglobin-A1c have been reported in diabetic patients, but the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study if insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and fasting plasma glucose showed seasonal variations in a Swedish population-based cohort of elderly men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 1117 men were investigated with a euglycemic insulin clamp and measurements of fasting plasma glucose and insulin secretion after an oral glucose tolerance test. Values were analyzed in linear regression models with an indicator variable for winter/summer season and outdoor temperature as predictors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During winter, insulin sensitivity (M/I, unit = 100 × mg × min(-1) × kg(-1)/(mU × L(-1))) was 11.0% lower (4.84 versus 5.44, P = 0.0003), incremental area under the insulin curve was 16.4% higher (1167 versus 1003 mU/L, P = 0.007). Fasting plasma glucose was, however, not statistically significantly different (5.80 versus 5.71 mmol/L, P = 0.28) compared to the summer season. There was an association between outdoor temperature and M/I (0.57 units increase (95% CI 0.29-0.82, P < 0.0001) per 10°C increase of outdoor temperature) independent of winter/summer season. Adjustment for life-style factors, type 2 diabetes, and medication did not alter these results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insulin sensitivity showed seasonal variations with lower values during the winter and higher during the summer season. Inverse compensatory variations of insulin secretion resulted in only minor variations of fasting plasma glucose. Insulin sensitivity was associated with outdoor temperature. These phenomena should be further investigated in diabetic patients.
authors: Department of Public Health/Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. lars.berglund@ucr.uu.se
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Berglund
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Berne
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Svärdsudd
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Garmo
authors: Håkan
authors: H
authors: Melhus
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Zethelius
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose