Aim: To investigate whether the preceding rate of glucose fall affects the glucose response to subcutaneous (s.c.) low-dose glucagon administration.
Methods: Ten adults with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes completed a randomized, single-blinded, 2-way cross-over study. Using hyperinsulinemic clamp technique, plasma glucose (PG) levels were initially stabilized at 8.0 mmol/l for ≥ 2 hrs. Thereafter, the glucose infusion rate was reduced to obtain either a rapid or a slow PG fall, while the insulin infusion was maintained at a fixed rate. When PG reached 3.9 mmol/l, insulin and glucose infusions were discontinued and a s.c. bolus of 150 µg glucagon was administered. PG levels were measured frequently for the following 120 min.
Results: The positive incremental area under the glucose curve (AUC) after administration of low-dose glucagon did not differ between the visits with a preceding rapid or slow glucose fall rate (mean ± s.e.m: 110 ± 25 vs. 73 ± 24 mmol/l x min, p = 0.21). Similarly, no significant difference in total AUC, peak PG, incremental peak PG, time-to-peak PG or PG at 120 min was observed.
Conclusions: Preceding glucose fall rate under fixed insulin level conditions did not affect the glucose response to low-dose s.c. glucagon administration.
C. Laugesen: None. S. Schmidt: Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic. K. Nørgaard: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Medtronic. Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. A. Ranjan: None.
