Iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia, not hyperglycemia, drives insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes as revealed by comparison with GCK-MODY (MODY2)

JM Gregory, TJ Smith, JC Slaughter, HR Mason… - Diabetes, 2019 - Am Diabetes Assoc
JM Gregory, TJ Smith, JC Slaughter, HR Mason, CC Hughey, MS Smith, B Kandasamy
Diabetes, 2019Am Diabetes Assoc
Although insulin resistance consistently occurs with type 1 diabetes, its predominant driver is
uncertain. We therefore determined the relative contributions of hyperglycemia and
iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia to insulin resistance using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps
in three participant groups (n= 10/group) with differing insulinemia and glycemia: healthy
control subjects (euinsulinemia and euglycemia), glucokinase–maturity-onset diabetes of
the young (GCK-MODY; euinsulinemia and hyperglycemia), and type 1 diabetes …
Although insulin resistance consistently occurs with type 1 diabetes, its predominant driver is uncertain. We therefore determined the relative contributions of hyperglycemia and iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia to insulin resistance using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps in three participant groups (n = 10/group) with differing insulinemia and glycemia: healthy control subjects (euinsulinemia and euglycemia), glucokinase–maturity-onset diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY; euinsulinemia and hyperglycemia), and type 1 diabetes (hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia matching GCK-MODY). We assessed the contribution of hyperglycemia by comparing insulin sensitivity in control and GCK-MODY and the contribution of hyperinsulinemia by comparing GCK-MODY and type 1 diabetes. Hemoglobin A1c was normal in control subjects and similarly elevated for type 1 diabetes and GCK-MODY. Basal insulin levels in control subjects and GCK-MODY were nearly equal but were 2.5-fold higher in type 1 diabetes. Low-dose insulin infusion suppressed endogenous glucose production similarly in all groups and suppressed nonesterified fatty acids similarly between control subjects and GCK-MODY, but to a lesser extent for type 1 diabetes. High-dose insulin infusion stimulated glucose disposal similarly in control subjects and GCK-MODY but was 29% and 22% less effective in type 1 diabetes, respectively. Multivariable linear regression showed that insulinemia—but not glycemia—was significantly associated with muscle insulin sensitivity. These data suggest that iatrogenic hyperinsulinemia predominates in driving insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes.
Am Diabetes Assoc