Glucagon treatment in type 1 diabetes -with focus on restoring plasma glucose during mild hypoglycemia .
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate whether low-dose glucagon could treat insulin-induced mild hypoglycemia and to identify conditions, such as a low-carbohydrate diet, that might impair glucagon's efficacy.
Results Summary
The study found that the glucose response to low-dose glucagon was dose-dependent but impaired during high insulin levels, after one week of a low-carbohydrate diet, and possibly after ethanol intake. These findings highlight clinically relevant conditions affecting glucagon's effectiveness in glucose control.
Population
Individuals with type 1 diabetes
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
One week of low-carbohydrate diet
Interactions
Impaired efficacy during high insulin levels and possibly after ethanol intake
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-dose glucagon | decrease | insulin-induced mild hypoglycemia | - | - | could treat insulin-induced mild hypoglycemia sufficiently | #1 |
low-dose glucagon | increase | glucose response | - | - | was dose-dependent | #2 |
low-dose glucagon | decrease | glucose response | - | - | was impaired | #3 |
high blood levels of insulin | decrease | glucose response to low-dose glucagon | - | - | impaired | #4 |
one week of low carbohydrate diet | decrease | glucose response to low-dose glucagon | - | - | impaired | #5 |
ethanol intake | decrease | glucose response to low-dose glucagon | - | 8-9 hours after | perhaps impaired | #6 |
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease caused by an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a condition with insulin deficiency and elevated blood glucose levels. Individuals with type 1 diabetes are therefore recommended to frequently inject insulin subcutaneously to keep near-normal blood glucose levels, preventing the progression and onset of diabetes-related complications, i.e. kidney failure, blindness, amputation, stroke and heart attack. Unfortunately, the intensified insulin therapy is associated with risk of hypoglycemia- impeding individuals from reaching recommended treatment goals. In this PhD thesis, we hypothesized that low-dose glucagon may complement existing insulin therapy in improving glucose control by treating and preventing mild hypoglycemia. The aim was to determine whether low-dose glucagon could treat insulin-induced mild hypoglycemia sufficiently, and to investigate conditions that might impair the efficacy of glucagon. We showed that the glucose response to low-dose glucagon was dose-dependent but was impaired during high blood levels of insulin, after one week of low carbohydrate diet and perhaps 8-9 hours after ethanol intake. These findings are clinically relevant when blood glucose levels are controlled through insulin and glucagon delivery.