Abstract

We adapted a minimal model to assess β-cell function during a hyperglycemic glucose clamp and to uncover peculiar aspects of the relationship among β-cell function, plasma glucose, and insulin sensitivity (IS) in offspring of Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes (OfT2D). We pooled two data sets of OfT2D (n = 69) and control subjects (n = 45) with normal glucose regulation. Plasma C-peptide was measured during a hyperglycemic clamp (∼10 mmol/l) to quantify model-based first-phase secretion and glucose sensitivity of second-phase secretion (β). IS was quantified during the hyperglycemic clamp. In the pooled data, first-phase secretion was linearly and negatively related to fasting plasma glucose, but not IS; OfT2D lay on a distinct line shifted to the left of the control subjects. In contrast, β was negatively related to IS, and OfT2D lay on a distinct line shifted more and more to the left of the control subjects, as IS was worse. Thus, in OfT2D lower β-cell adaptive responses exist between ambient glycemia and first-phase insulin secretion and between IS and second-phase secretion. Under conditions leading to decreased insulin sensitivity, these disturbed relationships may lead to progression to diabetes in OfT2D.