Normalization by Sodium Salicylate of the Impaired Counterregulatory Glucagon Response to Hypoglycemia in Insulin-dependent Diabetes: A Possible Role for Endogenous Prostaglandins

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of sodium salicylate on the counterregulatory glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in both insulin-dependent diabetic subjects (IDDM) and normal controls. The IDDM group consisted of 5 patients with recent onset of disease (<45 days), a normal glucagon response to hypoglycemia, and no detectable insulin antibodies (group 1); and 7 patients with duration of disease between 1 and 5 yr, a reduced glucagon response to hypoglycemia, and no insulin antibodies (group 2). Ten healthy subjects served as a control group. The infusion of sodium salicylate (40 mg/min) during insulin-induced hypoglycemia (1 mil/kg-min for 60 min) in normal subjects caused a significant increase of thecounterregulatory glucagon response both in terms of glucagon peak and integrated areas. Sodium salicylate itself significantly increased basal insulin and decreased glucose, but did not change basal glucagon. In the diabetic subjects of group 1, sodium salicylate amplified the glucagon response to the same degree of hypoglycemia without affecting the rates of glucose fall and recovery. Compared with normals and diabetic subjects of group 1, diabetic subjects of group 2 presented,in basal conditions, a reduced glucagon response to hypoglycemia and a slower rate of glucose recovery. Sodium salicylate normalized both defects. These results indicate that sodium salicylate may augment glucagon responses by improving the recognition of hypoglycemia in both normals and IDDM. Moreover, the restoration by sodium salicylate of a normal glucagon response to hypoglycemia in diabetic subjects of group 2 suggests a role for endogenous prostaglandins in this selective deficiency of the counterregulatory response.