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

Abstract

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 (G₀), 120-minute postbreakfast plasma glucagon (G₁₂₀), fasting glucagon/C-peptide ratio (G₀/CPR₀) and postbreakfast glucagon/C-peptide ratio (G₁₂₀/CPR₁₂₀) with clinical data were evaluated using multiple regression analysis.

Results

A total of 345 patients were enrolled in the study. G₀, and G₁₂₀ were significantly and positively associated with serum C-peptide levels. Moreover, G₀ and G₁₂₀ were positively associated with waist circumference, and G₀ was negatively associated with duration of diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, both G₀ and G₁₂₀ were negatively associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate. In addition, G₁₂₀/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.