Pancreatic islet defects in NIDDM

While circulating insulin levels may at times appear to be normal or even elevated in patients with NIDDM, depending on the control group for comparison and the glucose level at which subjects are studied, a profound impairment of pancreatic B-cell function is characteristic of NIDDM and contributes to the hyperglycemia in this condition (Halter, et al., 1985). Table I lists some of the defects of pancreatic islet function that have been observed in NIDDM.