The Effect of Endogenous GLP-1 on Glucagon Secretion in Type 1 Diabetes

Overview

Type 1 diabetes is a serious and burdensome disease that carries the risk of severe complications and premature death, partly due to low blood sugar, also called hypoglycaemia. This is a constant threat, as individuals with type 1 diabetes lack the body's natural safeguard against low blood sugar: the hormone glucagon, which is normally released from the pancreas. Recent research in mice suggests that this missing safeguard may be due to an imbalance in the hormones released from different cells in the pancreas. More specifically, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) appears to play a role in the lack of glucagon secretion. By blocking this hormone using the substance exendin(9-39)NH₂, normalization of glucagon release during low blood sugar has been observed in mice with type 1 diabetes. The present study aims to investigate whether the same mechanism applies in humans with type 1 diabetes. If confirmed, this finding could form the basis for a novel adjunct treatment to insulin therapy and thereby potentially reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia in this patient group.

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