Objective: To evaluate the effects of hyperglycemia due to partial insulin deprivation on myocardial triglyceride (TG) content and myocardial function in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Research design and methods: Myocardial and hepatic TG content and left ventricular (LV) function were measured by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and MR imaging during optimal glucoregulation and after 24 h of partial insulin deprivation (n = 10).
Results: Mean insulin infusion rate was 45 +/- 5 units at baseline, whereas it was 27 +/- 5 units during hyperglycemia (per 24 h, P < 0.001). Plasma glucose levels increased from 8.4 +/- 0.6 to 15.9 +/- 0.8 mmol/l (P < 0.001), and plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acids from 0.31 +/- 0.05 to 0.46 +/- 0.07 mmol/l (P = 0.015). Hyperglycemia had no effects on myocardial or hepatic TG content and LV function.
Conclusions: Short-term hyperglycemic dysregulation does not modulate myocardial or hepatic TG content or myocardial function, despite considerable metabolic adaptations.