Long-term normoglycemic remission in black newly diagnosed NIDDM subjects

Diabetes. 1996 Mar;45(3):337-41. doi: 10.2337/diab.45.3.337.

Abstract

We have defined and characterized the natural history of spontaneous near-normoglycemic remission off of antidiabetic medication in 79 black NIDDM subjects. They had initially presented with plasma glucose levels of 37.8 +/- 19.3 mmol/l. Baseline clinical metabolic and 8-year prospective data were obtained (51 men and 28 women, mean age 45 +/- 10 years, islet-cell or GAD antibody negative). After hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment, near-normoglycemic remission (fasting plasma glucose 6.1 +/- 0.83 mmol/l and HbA1c 0.95 +/- 0.10 of upper limit of normal) occurred within 8 +/- 10 months of insulin or sulfonylurea therapy. This was unrelated to the resolution of stress or significant weight loss (1.9 +/- 4.97 kg). Metabolic studies performed during remission showed 17% normal, 33% impaired, and 50% diabetic glucose tolerance. Glucose disposal (1 mU x kg-1 x min-1) euglycemic insulin clamp with D-[3(-3)H]glucose) was higher in the normal glucose tolerance group compared with the impaired and diabetic groups (37.8 +/- 10.2 vs. 26.1 +/- 10.7 and 26.7 +/- 12.0 micromol x kg-1 x min-1; P < 0.05) despite similar BMIs in all three groups (28.8 +/- 3.7 kg/m2). Insulin secretion was below the normal range. Of 79 patients, 27 relapsed. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis gives a median time of 40 months to relapse. Higher presenting plasma glucose and male sex predicted earlier relapse. Near-normoglycemic remission may occur in up to 30% of black new-onset NIDDM patients. It appears to be associated with intensive initial glycemic regulation and may be a method of decreasing the development of microvascular complications in NIDDM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black People*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / ethnology
  • Female
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds