Metabolic Effects of Somatostatin in Maturity-Onset Diabetes

Abstract

To examine the effects of prolonged infusions of somatostatin in maturity-onset diabetes, we administered five-hour infusions to eight patients. This infusion resulted in a 45 to 55 per cent decline in plasma insulin and glucagon. Plasma glucose initially fell by 20 to 25 mg per 100 ml, but later rose despite continuing hypoglucagonemia. After five hours, plasma glucose concentration was 45 to 50 mg per 100 ml higher than that observed with saline infusion (P<0.001). The degree of hyperglycemia and plasma insulin levels correlated inversely at completion of the infusion (P<0.01). In addition, somatostatin resulted in a fivefold increase in β-hydroxybutyrate and a 40 to 45 per cent rise in branched-chain amino acids (P<0.005).