Hyperglucagonemia Does Not Explain the β-Cell Hyperresponsiveness and Insulin Resistance in Dysglycemic Youth Compared With Adults: Lessons From the RISE Study

Objective: To determine whether β-cell hyperresponsiveness and insulin resistance in youth versus adults in the Restoring Insulin Secretion (RISE) Study are related to increased glucagon release.

Research Design And Methods: In 66 youth and 350 adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive), we performed hyperglycemic clamps and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). From clamps we quantified insulin sensitivity (M/I), plasma fasting glucagon and C-peptide, steady-state glucagon and C-peptide at glucose of 11.1 mmol/L, and arginine-stimulated glucagon (acute glucagon response [AGR]) and C-peptide (ACPRmax) responses at glucose >25 mmol/L.

Results: Mean ± SD fasting glucagon (7.63 ± 3.47 vs. 8.55 ± 4.47 pmol/L; = 0.063) and steady-state glucagon (2.24 ± 1.46 vs. 2.49 ± 1.96 pmol/L, = 0.234) were not different in youth and adults, respectively, while AGR was lower in youth (14.1 ± 5.2 vs. 16.8 ± 8.8 pmol/L, = 0.001). Significant age-group differences in insulin sensitivity, fasting C-peptide, steady-state C-peptide, and ACPRmax were not related to glucagon. Fasting glucose and glucagon were positively correlated in adults ( = 0.133, = 0.012) and negatively correlated in youth ( = -0.143, = 0.251). In both age-groups, higher fasting glucagon was associated with higher fasting C-peptide (youth = 0.209, = 0.091; adults = 0.335, < 0.001) and lower insulin sensitivity (youth = -0.228, = 0.066; adults = -0.324, < 0.001). With comparable fasting glucagon, youth had greater C-peptide and lower insulin sensitivity. OGTT suppression of glucagon was greater in youth.

Conclusions: Youth with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (drug naive) have hyperresponsive β-cells and lower insulin sensitivity, but their glucagon concentrations are not increased compared with those in adults. Thus, α-cell dysfunction does not appear to explain the difference in β-cell function and insulin sensitivity in youth versus adults.