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The Amount of Residual Incretin Regulates the Pancreatic β-cell Function and Glucose Homeostasis
Tatsuya Kondo1, Sayaka Kitano1, Nobukazu Miyakawa2
1Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Kumamoto University Hospital, Japan.
Abstract:
The gastrointestinal tract is considered an important endocrine organ for controlling glucose homeostasis via the production of incretins. A 21-year-old man emergently underwent total colectomy due to severe ulcerative colitis, and overt diabetes became evident. Weekly administration of a glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist (RA) dramatically improved his glucose control. Levels of GLP-1 or gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were low at the baseline in the duodenum and serum of the patient. After 11 months of GLP-1RA treatment, his HbA1c worsened again, and intensive insulin therapy was necessary to control his glucose levels. Our report may explain the significance of residual incretin for maintaining the pancreatic β-cell function.
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