Gastric emptying in newly diagnosed, treatment‐naïve Han Chinese with type 2 diabetes and the impact of 4‐week insulin pump therapy

Abstract

AbstractAimTo evaluate gastric emptying (GE) and the glycaemic response to a 75‐g oral glucose load in newly diagnosed, treatment‐naïve Han Chinese with type 2 diabetes (T2D) before insulin pump therapy, after 4 weeks of insulin pump therapy, and 12–15 months after insulin pump therapy.Materials and MethodsTwenty participants with T2D (baseline glycated haemoglobin [± SD] 10.7% [± 1.2%] 93 [± 10] mmol/mol) ingested a 75‐g glucose drink containing 150 mg 13C‐acetate, to determine the gastric half‐emptying time, and underwent assessment of plasma glucose and serum insulin, C‐peptide and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) over 180 min before and after 4 weeks of insulin pump therapy (discontinued for 48 h before re‐assessment). Data were compared to those in 19 healthy participants matched for sex and age. After 12–15 months, GE was re‐measured in 14 of the T2D participants.ResultsAt baseline, participants with T2D exhibited substantially augmented fasting and post‐glucose glycaemia, diminished insulin secretion, and more rapid GE (p < 0.05 each), but comparable GLP‐1, compared to healthy participants. Following insulin pump therapy, insulin secretion increased, GLP‐1 secretion was attenuated, fasting and post‐glucose glycaemia were lower, and GE was slowed (p < 0.05 each). The slowing of GE in T2D participants was sustained over 12–15 months of follow‐up.ConclusionsIn newly diagnosed Han Chinese with T2D, GE is often accelerated despite poor glycaemic control and is slowed by short‐term insulin pump therapy. The effect on GE is maintained for at least 12 months.