Near-normoglycaemic remission in African-Americans with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with recovery of beta cell function

Aims To prospectively determine the frequency of remission and possible mechanism of beta cell recovery in non-Whites with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the setting of intensive glycaemic regulation using pharmacological agents. Methods Twenty-six consecutive, newly diagnosed African-American, Type 2 diabetic patients presenting primarily for severe hyperglycaemia (31.0 +/- 12.8 mmol/l) were followed for at least 1 year. Initial hospitalization included treatment with insulin, fluids and electrolytes. Outpatient intensive glycaemic regulation included insulin or glibenclamide, diabetes education and diet that altered nutrient content. Plasma glucose and C-peptide responses to an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA(1c) were measured at < 14, 15-56 and 57-112 days after presentation. Remission was defined as a HbA(1c) 6.3% and fasting plasma glucose < 6.9 mmol/l, 3 months after discontinuing all pharmacological agents. Results Eleven of 26 patients (42.3%) developed remission after a mean of 83 days of pharmacological treatment and remained in remission during follow-up for 248-479 days; one relapsed after 294 days. Fifteen patients who did not develop a remission and were followed for 168-468 days, required continuing pharmacological therapy to be well-controlled. (mean HbA(1c) = 7.1%). There was no significant difference in age, sex, plasma glucose at presentation, initial glycaemic regulation, final body mass index, magnitude of weight change or pharmacological agents used for treatment between the two groups. Plasma C-peptide response to oral glucose was initially (< 14 days) suppressed in all subjects and subsequently increased. The increase was significantly greater in those who underwent a remission than those who did not. Neither significant weight loss nor severe hypoglycaemia was observed in either group during intensive treatment. Conclusions Forty-two per cent of newly diagnosed, unselected African-Americans with Type 2 diabetes, treated intensively using pharmacological agents, education and diet developed near-normoglycaemic remission. Remission was associated with a greater recovery of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion suggesting that therapies directed at promoting beta cell recovery and preservation are potentially useful approaches to the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.