The Effects of Bethanechol on Glucose Homeostasis

Each eligible participant will be administered an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) so he/she can be assigned to the group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) which is between normal and diabetic, or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Each study subject will then be administered a meal tolerance test (MTT) on 4 separate occasions. For the MTT, a liquid meal (Boost Plus) will be ingested following an overnight fast. A placebo or Bethanechol (25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg) will taken by mouth 1 hour before ingestion of the meal. Blood samples will be collected before and during the MTT for the measurement of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon levels.

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 18-65. No minors will be studied.
• Individuals must be able to consent for their own participation (no mental impairment affecting cognition or willingness to follow study instructions).
• Healthy volunteers with no clinical evidence of T2DM (see below).
• Otherwise healthy volunteers that have impaired glucose tolerance (see below).
• Otherwise healthy volunteers with Diet Controlled T2DM (see below).
• Otherwise healthy volunteers with T2DM that take oral agents only and if the subject's pre-existing oral anti-diabetic agents can be safely discontinued for 48 hours prior to Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.
• Otherwise healthy volunteers with T2DM who do not use insulin for blood glucose control.
• Persons with HbA1c ≤ 9%.
• Women of childbearing potential must be currently taking/using a method of birth control that is acceptable to the investigators. A pregnancy test will be done at the beginning of each visit. Any woman with a positive pregnancy test will be removed from the study.

Exclusion criteria

• <18years of age or >65 years of age
• Lacks cognitive ability to sign the consent &/or follow the study directions for themselves
• Women unwilling to comply with using an acceptable method of contraception during the course of the study, or who are currently breast-feeding.
• Any subject whose screening HbA1c is >9.0%
• Type 2 diabetes requiring the use of supplemental insulin @ home
• Volunteers with a history of Acute Pancreatitis
• Volunteer with a history of Chronic Pancreatitis and/or risk factors for chronic pancreatitis including hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides >400mg/ml) hypercalcemia (blood calcium level >11.md/dl) and/or the presence of gallstones.
• Volunteers with a history of gastrointestinal disorders, particularly related to gastric motility/emptying such as gastric bypass, documented gastro-paresis in diabetic volunteers.
• Volunteers with a history of cancer. Exception: skin cancer.
• Diabetics that have the potential to have a low blood sugar without them being aware that their blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
• Known heart, kidney. liver or pancreatic disease requiring medications.
• Unwillingness to allow blood glucose level adjustment (if needed) with IV insulin.
• Subjects with hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD.