Association of Glucagon With Obesity, Glycemic Control and Renal Function in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: In this study, we used a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess the association between blood glucagon levels and indices of obesity, glycemic control and renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This investigation was a cross-sectional study on inpatients with T2DM who had plasma glucagon levels measured during hospitalization. Associations of fasting glucagon levels (G(0)), 120-minute postbreakfast plasma glucagon (G(120)), fasting glucagon/C-peptide ratio (G(0)/CPR0) and postbreakfast glucagon/C-peptide ratio (G(120)/CPR120) with clinical data were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Results: A total of 345 patients were enrolled in the study. G(0), and G(120) were significantly and positively associated with serum C-peptide levels. Moreover, G(0) and G(120) were positively associated with waist circumference, and G(0) was negatively associated with duration of diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, both G(0) and G(120) were negatively associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate. In addition, G(120)/CPR120 was positively associated with duration of diabetes mellitus and glycoalbumin levels. Conclusions: The balance between glucagon and insulin secretion is significantly associated with abdominal obesity and important for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Postprandial hyperglucagonemia could also be related to deterioration of renal function. (C) 2020 Canadian Diabetes Association.

Automated summary

The study found that glucagon levels were positively associated with clinical indicators in patients with diabetes, such as serum C-peptide levels and waist circumference, but negatively associated with duration of diabetes and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Postprandial hyperglucagonemia was also linked to worsening renal function.