Effects of short-term pulsatile and continuous insulin delivery on glucagon secretion and insulin secretion and action

Abstract

In six normal nonobese subjects, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps were performed during paired sequential two-hour intravenous (IV) insulin infusions separated by an hour washout period. Each infusion was either 32 mU/kg/h of continuous insulin (CI) or 75% of this dose as 40-second pulses delivered every 13 minutes (PI). Six studies were performed with each of the following sequences in random order: PI-CI, CI-PI, and CI-CI. Based on the initial infusions, the insulin-dependent fractional glucose disappearance rate (X) during pulsatile insulin delivery (3.0 ± 0.4 min-1 × 102, n = 6) was 73% of that of the continuous infusions (4.1 ± 0.3 min-1 × 102, n = 12). This ratio was similar to that ..