Minireview: Glucagon in the pathogenesis of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetes

Philip E. Cryer

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

193 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pancreatic islet α-cell glucagon secretion is critically dependent on pancreatic islet β-cell insulin secretion. Normally, a decrease in the plasma glucose concentration causes a decrease in β-cell insulin secretion that signals an increase in α-cell glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia. In contrast, an increase in the plasma glucose concentration, among other stimuli, causes an increase in β-cell insulin secretion that signals a decrease, or at least no change, in α-cell glucagon secretion after a meal. In absolute endogenous insulin deficiency (i.e. in type 1 diabetes and in advanced type 2 diabetes), however, β-cell failure results in no decrease in β-cell insulin secretion and thus no increase in α-cell glucagon secretion during hypoglycemiaandnoincrease in β-cell insulin secretion and thus an increase in α-cell glucagon secretion after a meal. In type 1 diabetes and advanced type 2 diabetes, the absence of an increment in glucagon secretion, in the setting of an absent decrement in insulin secretion and an attenuated increment in sympathoadrenal activity, in response to falling plasma glucose concentrations plays a key role in the pathogenesis of iatrogenic hypoglycemia. In addition, there is increasing evidence that, in the aggregate, suggests that relative hyperglucagonemia, in the setting of deficient insulin secretion, plays a role in the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia in diabetes. If so, abnormal glucagon secretion is involved in the pathogenesis of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1039-1048
Number of pages10
JournalEndocrinology
Volume153
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Minireview: Glucagon in the pathogenesis of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this