Characterization of the Incretinpathy in Type 2 Diabetes Initiated After Sixty Years Old

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, absolute or relative insulin deficiency, hyperglucagonemia, increased hepatic glucose production, frequently accelerated gastric emptying and obesity. The known effects of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on the metabolism are stimulation of insulin secretion, inhibition of glucagon secretion and hepatic glucose production, reduction in gastric emptying and modulation of the appetite. T2DM have disturbances in this system, providing a rationale for therapeutic use of GLP-1 in T2DM. Furthermore, GLP-1 seems to exert trophic effects on the beta-cell.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors represent a new class of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents for the treatment of T2DM. The therapeutic utility of these antihyperglycemic agents rests on their ability of to increase active (intact) levels of incretin peptides, including GLP-1 and GIP.

Twenty four T2DM volunteers will be evaluated by a meal tolerance test (MTT) for incretin hormone measurements, and by the hyperglycemic clamp followed by an arginine test for assessing the beta-cell function and the acute insulin response. Others parameters as body composition and basic biochemistry will be also evaluated at Laboratory of Investigation on Metabolism and Diabetes - LIMED / State university of Campinas, Brazil.

T2DM in elderly are behaving differently. Elderly patients have no increase in liver production of glucose; when obese, have normal insulin secretion, however, display extreme resistance to its action. In non obese individuals, the concentration of glucose necessary for insulin secretion is increased and the action is standard. These findings suggest therefore that the approach should be differentiated treatment for these individuals.