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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion
Published on: May 10, 2018
The Insulin:Glucagon Ratio and the Choice of Glucose-Lowering Drugs
Sanjay Kalra1, Yashdeep Gupta2
1Department of Endocrinology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal, India. brideknl@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The influence of alpha and beta cells, through glucagon and insulin, on energy metabolism is well known. The insulin:glucagon ratio (IGR) is a frequently discussed entity in the medical literature. However, in recent years, focus has shifted to other pathways and markers of health and disease. This communication revisits the insulin:glucagon bipolar axis and describes the significance of the IGR. It reviews the effects of various glucose-lowering drugs on this ratio, and hypothesizes that the ratio can be used to predict the appropriate choice of drugs for managing diabetes. Drugs which increase the IGR may be beneficial in insulinopenic conditions, while those which decrease IGR may be of help in the setting of hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance.
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