Glucagon and hyperglycaemia in diabetes.

Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, 660 South Euclid Ave, MO 63110, USA. pcryer@wustl.edu

Glucagon, in the setting of absolute or relative insulin deficiency, is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia in diabetes, but much of the evidence is extrapolated from short-term studies to the long-term condition. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Li and co-workers report that infusion of glucagon raised fasting plasma glucose concentrations and impaired glucose tolerance over 4 weeks in mice, thus demonstrating a sustained glycaemic effect of hyperglucagonaemia. Nonetheless, compelling evidence that glucagon contributes to the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia in diabetes awaits long-term selective reduction of glucagon secretion or action in humans.

PMID: 18197838 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]