Mechanism Underlying Beta-cell Failure in Obese African Americans With History of Hyperglycemic Crises



Status:Completed
Conditions:Diabetes, Diabetes
Therapuetic Areas:Endocrinology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 65
Updated:10/14/2018
Start Date:March 2004
End Date:December 2009

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Obesity is common in African American (AA) patients with newly diagnosed diabetes who present
with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Despite the presentation with severe symptoms of
insulinopenia and ketoacidosis, clinical and immunogenetic observations indicate that most
obese AA patients with DKA have type 2 diabetes. In such patients, previous studies reveal
that: a) at presentation, obese AA patients with DKA have markedly decreased pancreatic
insulin secretion, lower than in obese non-DKA patients admitted with comparable
hyperglycemia, but significantly greater than in lean patients with DKA; b) aggressive
diabetic management results in significant improvement in beta-cell function and insulin
sensitivity sufficient to allow discontinuation of insulin therapy within 3 months of
follow-up. Based on these observations the researchers conclude that similar to obese
patients with hyperglycemia, most obese AA with DKA have type 2 diabetes, and that although
defects in both insulin secretion and insulin action are present, transient b-cell failure is
the primary defect in the development of ketoacidosis.

Obese AA patients with a history of DKA who later experience near-normoglycemia remission
represent an ideal population in which to define the sequence of events that lead to b-cell
dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. The researchers hypothesize that obese AA with DKA will prove
particularly susceptible to beta-cells dysfunction due to sustained elevations of plasma
glucose (glucose toxicity) and/or free fatty acid levels (lipotoxicity). This study will test
beta-cell response by administering a glucose infusion to diabetic African Americans with a
history of DKA, diabetic African Americans without a history of DKA, and non-diabetic African
Americans.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Obese African American subjects (body mass index (BMI) equal or greater than 30)

- Age 18-65

- Patients with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis as defined by the American Diabetes
Association (ADA) criteria

- Patients admitted with hyperglycemia but without ketoacidosis (blood glucose greater
than 400ml/dl without evidence of ketosis/ketones

- Obese nondiabetic controls (BMI >30; ruled out for diabetes with a 75g oral glucose
tolerance test)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients with positive autoimmune markers (islet cell or glutamic acid decarboxylase
(GAD) autoantibodies)

- Patients with significant medical or surgical illness, including but not limited to
myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, chronic renal insufficiency, liver
failure, and infectious processes

- Patients with recognized or suspected endocrine disorders associated with increased
insulin resistance, such as hypercortisolism, acromegaly, or hyperthyroidism

- Patients with bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia, or abnormalities in coagulation
studies

- Patients with fasting hyperglycemia (blood glucose > 120 mg/dl) after discontinuation
of insulin therapy

- Pregnancy
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