Glucagon and Blood Glucose: Insights from Artificial Pancreas Studies
Authors: PHILIP FELIG
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Editorial Notes1 June 1980Glucagon and Blood Glucose: Insights from Artificial Pancreas StudiesPHILIP FELIG, M.D., ROBERT S. SHERWIN, M.D.PHILIP FELIG, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, ROBERT S. SHERWIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-6-856 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe central role of insulin in the pathogenesis of diabetes has been recognized since the classical experiments of Banting and Best in 1921. Subsequent studies, however, have clearly shown that other hormones also contribute to the regulation of blood glucose. The work of Houssay established the importance of pituitary hormones (growth hormone and ACTH) in counteracting the action of insulin, whereas Long and Lukens showed similar effects for the adrenal cortex (glucocorticoids). More recently, relative or absolute hypersecretion of glucagon has been invoked as being of equal importance to insulin lack in the pathogenesis of diabetes (1). The major observations...References1. UNGER R. Diabetes and the alpha cell. Diabetes. 1976;25:136-45. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. GERICHLORENZISCHNEIDER JMV. Effects of somatostatin on plasma glucose and glucagon levels in human diabetes mellitus: pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications. N Engl J Med. 1974;291:544-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. RASKINUNGER PR. Hyperglucagonemia and its suppression: importance in the metabolic control of diabetes. N Engl J Med. 1978;299:433-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. VRANICPEKKAWAMORI MSR. Increased "glucagon immunoreactivity" (IRG) in plasma of totally depancreatized dogs. Diabetes. 1974;23:905-12. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. DOBBSSAKURAISASAKI RHH. Glucagon: role in the hyperglycemia of diabetes mellitus. Science. 1975;187:544-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. 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Outpatient treatment of juvenile-onset diabetes with a preprogrammed portable subcutaneous insulin infusion system. Am J Med. 1980;68:190-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18 CLARKESANTIAGOKIPUS WJD. The effect of hyperglucagonemia on blood glucose concentrations and insulin requirements in insulin-requiring diabetics. Diabetes. 1978;27:649-52. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar19. RASKINPIETRIUNGER PAR. Changes in glucagon levels after four to five weeks of glucoregulation by portable insulin infusion pumps. Diabetes. 1979;28:1033-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. TAMBORLANESHERWINKOIVISTOHENDLERGENELFELIG WRVRMP. Normalization of the growth hormone and catecholamine response to exercise in juvenile-onset diabetic subjects treated with a portable insulin infusion pump. Diabetes. 1979:28:785-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar21. LILJENQUISTMUELLERCHERRINGTON JGA. Evidence for an important role of glucagon in the regulation of hepatic glucose production in normal man. J Clin Invest. 1977:59:369-74. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar22. FELIGWAHRENHENDLER PJR. Influence of physiologic hyperglucagonemia on basal and insulin-inhibited splanchnic glucose output in normal man. J Clin Invest. 1976:58:761-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar23. EIGLERSACCÀSHERWIN NLR. Synergistic interactions of physiologic increments of glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol in the dog: a model for stress-induced hyperglycemia. J Clin Invest. 1979:63:114-23. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar24. FELIGSHERWINSOMAN PRV. Hormonal interactions in the regulation of blood glucose. Recent Prog Horm Res. 1979:35:501-29. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: PHILIP FELIG, M.D.; ROBERT S. SHERWIN, M.D.Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, Connecticut PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDiabetic complications and the surgeonSilicon Carbide, SiCLipolytic and adenyl-cyclase-stimulating activity of glucagon1–6: comparison with glucagon derivatives chemically modified in the 7–29 sequenceHormonal and metabolic control of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism 1 June 1980Volume 92, Issue 6Page: 856-857KeywordsAdrenocorticotropic hormoneBloodGlucagonGlucoseGrowth hormoneHormonesInsulinPancreasPathogenesisProlactin ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1980 PDF downloadLoading ...