Comparison of three methods for the quantification of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: Nijpels, G., van der Wal, P.S., Bouter, L.M., Heine, R.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 31.12.1994; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fasting; Glucose Clamp Technique; Glucose Intolerance - blood; Glucose Intolerance - physiopathology; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Hyperglycaemic clamp; Impaired glucose tolerance; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin Secretion; Insulin sensitivity; Islets of Langerhans - metabolism; Islets of Langerhans - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oral glucose tolerance test; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; β-cell function; Oral glucose tolerance test; Continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment; β-cell function; Insulin sensitivity; Impaired glucose tolerance; Hyperglycaemic clamp; Endocrinopathy; Performance evaluation; Human; Cell function; Intravenous administration; Glucose clamp technique; Oral administration; Glucose tolerance test; Non insulin dependent diabetes; Insulin; Endocrine secretion; Target tissue resistance; Measurement method; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-8227(94)90060-4

The purpose of this study was to compare two techniques for the quantification of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Sixteen subjects (2 with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 8 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 6 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT)), aged 40–65 years underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA) and a hyperglycaemic clamp (10 mmol/l) in random order. As measures of β-cell function we used the clamp derived area under the curve from 0–10 min (first phase insulin response) and the mean insulin level during the last 20 min of the clamp (second phase insulin response). Insulin sensitivity was reflected by the ratio of the glucose infusion rate and the mean insulin level during the last 20 min of the clamp ( M I ratio). Measures for β-cell function and insulin sensitivity derived from OGTT and CIGMA appeared to correlate only moderately (0.5–0.7) with the corresponding clamp measures. It is concluded that OGTT and CIGMA derived measures of β-cell function and insulin sensitivity should be interpreted with caution.