Pancreatic perfusion and subsequent response to glucose in healthy individuals and patients with type 1 diabetes

Diabetologia. 2016 Sep;59(9):1968-72. doi: 10.1007/s00125-016-4016-2. Epub 2016 Jun 16.

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to investigate pancreatic perfusion and its response to a glucose load in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared with non-diabetic ('healthy') individuals.

Methods: Eight individuals with longstanding type 1 diabetes and ten sex-, age- and BMI-matched healthy controls underwent dynamic positron emission tomography scanning with (15)O-labelled water before and after intravenous administration of glucose. Perfusion in the pancreas was measured. Portal and arterial hepatic perfusion were recorded as references.

Results: Under fasting conditions, total pancreatic perfusion was on average 23% lower in the individuals with diabetes compared with healthy individuals. Glucose increased total pancreatic and portal hepatic blood perfusion in healthy individuals by 48% and 38%, respectively. In individuals with diabetes there was no significant increase in either total pancreatic or portal hepatic perfusion.

Conclusions/interpretation: Individuals with type 1 diabetes have reduced basal pancreatic perfusion and a severely impaired pancreatic and splanchnic perfusion response to intravenous glucose stimulation.

Keywords: Blood flow; Glucose; Pancreas; Pancreatic islets; Perfusion; Type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Pancreas / drug effects*
  • Pancreas / metabolism*
  • Perfusion*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Glucose