Glucose tolerance in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus during hemodialysis

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2021 Mar:173:108694. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2021.108694. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Abstract

Aims: The disposal of a glucose bolus was studied to identify glucose metabolism in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during their regular hemodialysis (HD) treatment.

Methods: Plasma glucose, insulin, and c-peptide concentrations were measured during a 60 min observation phase following a rapid glucose infusion (0.5 g/kg dry weight). Glucose disposition and elimination rates were determined from kinetic analysis, and insulinogenic index was calculated. Insulin resistance (RHOMA) was determined by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA).

Results: 35 HD patients (14 with T2DM) distinguished by a higher age (median: 70 vs. 55 y, p < 0.01) in T2DM patients were studied. Glucose kinetic data showed only small differences between patients with or without T2DM, but as RHOMA measured in all patients increased, a larger fraction of glucose was removed by the extracorporeal system (r = 0.430, p = 0.01). One hour after glucose bolus injection the glucose level was not different from that before HD also in patients with T2DM (p = 0.115).

Conclusions: The larger glucose amount recovered in dialysate in patients with increasing RHOMA indicates that impaired glucose disposal could be measured during HD using a non-invasive dialysis quantification approach without blood sampling. Glucose infusion during HD is safe also in patients with T2DM.

Keywords: Clearance; Glucose; Hemodialysis; Insulin resistance; Kinetics.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis / methods*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose