Insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes Insulin resistance alone is insufficient to cause diabetes. To develop hyperglycaemia it is necessary to also have a defect in insulin secretion. This slide demonstrates the typical abnormality of insulin secretion seen in patients with type 2 diabetes. Panel A shows that patients with type 2 diabetes have severely impaired first-phase insulin response. Ports D Jr. Acute and chronic effects of sulfonylurea drugs on pancreatic islet function in man.
Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with impaired glucose influence on insulin secretion.
A study in normal rats using chronic in vivo glucose infusions. There are known genetic causes of beta cell failure. Velho G, Froguel P. Genetic, metabolic and clinical characteristics of maturity onset diabetes of the young. The blood glucose level starts to rise slightly, just above normal, but not high enough to be in the diabetic range. Blood glucose levels then become overtly elevated into the diabetic range.