Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Analysis of Beta-cell Function Using Single-cell Resolution Calcium Imaging in Zebrafish Islets
Published on: July 3, 2018
Effect of Beta-Cell Function on Glucose Variability When Switching From Insulin Degludec Plus a Dipeptidyl
Yuki Oe1, Hiroshi Nomoto1,2, Akinobu Nakamura1
1Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Abstract:
For patients with diabetes, achieving stable glucose control with minimal variability is highly significant. Incretin drugs have been shown to improve glycemic variability (GV), and we recently showed that a switch from a combination of a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor plus basal insulin to insulin degludec/liraglutide (IDegLira) improves GV, including the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), using continuous glucose monitoring in hospitalized patients with Type 2 diabetes. Here, we performed a secondary analysis to identify the factors related to an improvement in MAGE when switching to IDegLira. In patients with high MAGE, the change in C-peptide immunoreactivity during a glucagon test (ΔCPR) showed the highest correlation with the change in MAGE among the baseline patients' characteristics (ρ = -0.70; p < 0.05). Regression analysis confirmed a significant association between preserved CPR and amelioration of MAGE (R 2 = 0.45; p < 0.05). Thus, this preliminary result implies that a treatment strategy that includes a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist might be beneficial for patients being treated with a DPP-4 inhibitor plus basal insulin who show high GV but have preserved beta-cell function.
Trial Registration:
University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN 000039460.
Related Concept Videos
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...

