Measurement of GLP-1 in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Subjects in Comparison to Type 2 Diabetes Patients and Healthy Subjects

Background: Incretin therapy of type 2 diabetes patients is based on the fact that Incretin Effect is diminished in those patients. The objective is to measure glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels in impaired oral glucose tolerance (IGT) subjects and compare them to those of type 2 diabetes patients and healthy subjects. If the incretin hormone (GLP-1) is established to be diminished in IGT subjects, future study may assess effectiveness of incretin therapy to prevent or delay diabetes in IGT subjects.

Patients and methods: GLP-1 was measured by ELISA test at 0, 30 and 120 minutes in accordance with OGTT in three groups: type 2 diabetes groups including 24 patient, impaired glucose tolerance group including 24 subject and healthy control group including 24 subject as control. Patients were classified according to the WHO criteria for diabetes diagnosis.

Results: Fasting GLP-1 levels were none significantly different between the studied groups. One the other hand, GLP-1 response at 30' was significantly diminished in diabetics when compared with IGT and controls. GLP-1 levels at 120' were significantly reduced in type 2 diabetes patients when compared with IGT and controls and significantly diminished in IGT when compared with controls.

Conclusions: The study indicates that the GLP-1 levels are diminished in impaired glucose tolerance subjects when it’s compared to normal subjects.