Glucoregulatory hormonal responses to acute hypoglycemia in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the glucoregulatory hormonal response to acute hypoglycemia in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 92) were enrolled and divided into elderly (≥ 60 years old) and nonelderly (< 60 years old) groups. Several glucoregulatory hormones were measured before (b) and 30 minute after (P30’) the correction of hypoglycemia. Results The magnitude of change in adrenaline concentrations (Δ-adrenaline) before and after hypoglycemia was significantly lower in the elderly group than in the nonelderly group. The b-and p30’-dopamine concentrations and the change in dopamine (Δ-dopamine) were greater in the elderly group than in the nonelderly group. The b-free triiodothyronine (FT3), b-free thyroxine (FT4), p30’FT3, and p30’FT4 concentrations were lower in the elderly group than in the nonelderly group. Compared to the nonelderly group, the elderly group had significantly decreased renin concentrations during hypoglycemia. There were no significant between-group differences in noradrenaline, cortisol, C-peptide, angiotensin II, aldosterone, or thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that acute hypoglycemia had a complicated effect on glucoregulatory hormones in elderly diabetic patients, which dramatically differed from the effect observed in nonelderly patients.