Insulin release by glucose anomers in a rat model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes

The effects of the alpha and beta anomers of D-glucose on insulin release were studied in a rat model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes, which was induced by streptozotocin injection at 2 days of age. Glucose tolerance of the streptozotocin-treated rats at 8-10 weeks of age was mildly diabetic. Insulin release from the isolated perfused pancreas of the diabetic rats in response to 10 mmol/l alpha-D-glucose was markedly impaired, while insulin response to 10 mmol/l beta-D-glucose in the diabetic pancreas was only slightly reduced as compared to that in the control pancreas.