John M. Miles

Hyperglycemic Crises in Adult Patients With Diabetes

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are the two most serious acute metabolic complications of diabetes. DKA is responsible for more than 500,000 hospital days per year (1,2) at an estimated annual direct medical expense and indirect cost of 2.4 billion USD (2,3). Table 1 outlines the diagnostic criteria for DKA and HHS. The triad of uncontrolled hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and increased total body ketone concentration characterizes DKA. HHS is characterized by severe hyperglycemia, hyperosmolality, and dehydration in the absence of significant ketoacidosis. These metabolic derangements result from the combination of absolute or relative insulin deficiency and an increase in counterregulatory hormones (glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone). Most patients with DKA have autoimmune type 1 diabetes; however, patients with type 2 diabetes are also at risk during the catabolic stress of acute illness such as trauma, surgery, or infections. This consensus statement will outline precipitating factors and recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of DKA and HHS in adult subjects. It is based on a previous technical review (4) and more recently published peer-reviewed articles since 2001, which should be consulted for further information. View this table: Table 1 Diagnostic criteria for DKA and HHS Recent epidemiological studies indicate that hospitalizations for DKA in the U.S. are increasing. In the decade from 1996 to 2006, there was a 35% increase in the number of cases, with a total of 136,510 cases with a primary diagnosis of DKA in 2006—a rate of increase perhaps more rapid than the overall increase in the diagnosis of diabetes (1). Most patients with DKA were between the ages of 18 and 44 years (56%) and 45 and 65 years (24%), with only 18% of patients <20 years of age. Two-thirds of DKA patients were considered to have type 1 diabetes and …

Influence of body fat distribution on free fatty acid metabolism in obesity.

UNLABELLED In order to determine whether differences in body fat distribution result in specific abnormalities of free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism, palmitate turnover, a measure of systemic adipose tissue lipolysis, was measured in 10 women with upper body obesity, 9 women with lower body obesity, and 8 nonobese women under overnight postabsorptive (basal), epinephrine stimulated and insulin suppressed conditions. RESULTS Upper body obese women had greater (P less than 0.005) basal palmitate turnover than lower body obese or nonobese women (2.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2 mumol.kg lean body mass (LBM)-1.min-1, respectively), but a reduced (P less than 0.05) net lipolytic response to epinephrine (59 +/- 7 vs. 79 +/- 5 vs. 81 +/- 7 mumol palmitate/kg LBM, respectively). Both types of obesity were associated with impaired suppression of FFA turnover in response to euglycemic hyperinsulinemia compared to nonobese women (P less than 0.005). These specific differences in FFA metabolism may reflect adipocyte heterogeneity, which may in turn affect the metabolic aberrations associated with different types of obesity. These findings emphasize the need to characterize obese subjects before studies.

Insulin Regulation of Lipolysis in Nondiabetic and IDDM Subjects

To determine whether insulin regulation of lipolysis is abnormal in subjects with poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), free-fatty acid flux ([1-14C]palmitate) was measured under conditions ranging from complete insulin withdrawal to hyperinsulinemia. Seven nondiabetic and seven IDDM subjects were studied with the pancreatic clamp technique to control plasma insulin, growth hormone, and glucagon concentrations at the desired levels. Preliminary studies were performed to validate the experimental design. The palmitate flux response to insulin withdrawal (2.5 ± 0.2 vs. 2.5 ± 0.2 μmol · kg−1 · min−1) and maximally antilipolytic insulin concentrations (0.17 ± 0.02 vs. 0.23 ± 0.03 μmol · kg−1 · min−1) were not different in nondiabetic and IDDM subjects, respectively. In contrast, IDDM subjects required significantly greater plasma free-insulin concentrations to result in equivalent suppression of palmitate flux compared with nondiabetic subjects. Lipolysis was found to be very sensitive to insulin in nondiabetic humans, with half-maximal suppression occurring at plasma free-insulin concentrations of ∼12 pM (< 2 μU/ml). We conclude that adipose tissue lipolysis is normally exquisitely sensitive to insulin and that sensitivity, but not responsiveness to insulin, is impaired in poorly controlled IDDM.

Increased proteolysis. An effect of increases in plasma cortisol within the physiologic range.

Prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids in pharmacologic amounts results in muscle wasting, but whether changes in plasma cortisol within the physiologic range affect amino acid and protein metabolism in man has not been determined. To determine whether a physiologic increase in plasma cortisol increases proteolysis and the de novo synthesis of alanine, seven normal subjects were studied on two occasions during an 8-h infusion of either hydrocortisone sodium succinate (2 micrograms/kg X min) or saline. The rate of appearance (Ra) of leucine and alanine were estimated using [2H3]leucine and [2H3]alanine. In addition, the Ra of leucine nitrogen and the rate of transfer of leucine nitrogen to alanine were estimated using [15N]leucine. Plasma cortisol increased (10 +/- 1 to 42 +/- 4 micrograms/dl) during cortisol infusion and decreased (14 +/- 2 to 10 +/- 2 micrograms/dl) during saline infusion. No change was observed in plasma insulin, C-peptide, or glucagon during either saline or cortisol infusion. Plasma leucine concentration increased more (P less than 0.05) during cortisol infusion (120 +/- 1 to 203 +/- 21 microM) than saline (118 +/- 8 to 154 +/- 4 microM) as a result of a greater (P less than 0.01) increase in its Ra during cortisol infusion (1.47 +/- 0.08 to 1.81 +/- 0.08 mumol/kg X min for cortisol vs. 1.50 +/- 0.08 to 1.57 +/- 0.09 mumol/kg X min). Leucine nitrogen Ra increased (P less than 0.01) from 2.35 +/- 0.12 to 3.46 +/- 0.24 mumol/kg X min, but less so (P less than 0.05) during saline infusion (2.43 +/- 0.17 to 2.84 +/- 0.15 mumol/kg X min, P less than 0.01). Alanine Ra increased (P less than 0.05) during cortisol infusion but remained constant during saline infusion. During cortisol, but not during saline infusion, the rate and percentage of leucine nitrogen going to alanine increased (P less than 0.05). Thus, an increase in plasma cortisol within the physiologic range increases proteolysis and the de novo synthesis of alanine, a potential gluconeogenic substrate. Therefore, physiologic changes in plasma cortisol play a role in the regulation of whole body protein and amino acid metabolism in man.

Use of t-butyldimethylsilylation in the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of physiologic compounds found in plasma using electron-impact ionization☆

The use of N-methyl-N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide to prepare the t-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of a number of organic compounds (selected amino acids, alpha-keto acids, ketone bodies, free fatty acids, urea, glycerol, lactate, and pyruvate) is reported. These derivatives are particularly useful for gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis involving the use of stable isotopes and selected ion monitoring, since a peak of sufficient abundance at 57 mass/charge units below the molecular ion was always present, and was the result of the loss of one t-butyl group. In each case, this fragment contained the entire skeleton of the original compound, which permitted easy analysis using electron-impact ionization of these compounds alone or when labeled with stable isotopes in any nonexchangeable position.

Lipolysis during fasting. Decreased suppression by insulin and increased stimulation by epinephrine.

These studies were designed to determine whether the insulin resistance of fasting extends to its antilipolytic effects and whether fasting enhances the lipolytic effects of adrenergic stimulation independent of changes in plasma hormone and substrate concentrations. Palmitate flux was determined isotopically ([1-14C]palmitate) before and during epinephrine infusion in normal volunteers after a 14-h (day 1) and an 84-h (day 4) fast. Using a pancreatic clamp, constant plasma hormone and glucose concentrations were achieved on both study days in seven subjects. Six subjects were infused with saline and served as controls. During the pancreatic clamp, palmitate flux was greater (P less than 0.01) on day 4 than day 1, despite similar plasma insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glucose concentrations. The lipolytic response to epinephrine was greater (P less than 0.05) on day 4 than day 1 in both groups of subjects. In conclusion, lipolysis during fasting is less completely suppressed by insulin and more readily stimulated by epinephrine.

Stimulation of Lipolysis in Humans by Physiological Hypercortisolemia

The effect of glucocorticoids on adipose tissue lipolysis in animals and humans is controversial. To determine whether a physiological increase in plasma cortisol, similar to that observed in diabetic ketoacidosis and other stress conditions, stimulates lipolysis, palmitate kinetics were measured in seven nondiabetic volunteers on two occasions with [1-14C]palmitate as a tracer. Subjects received a 6-h infusion of either 2 μg · kg−1 · min−1 hydrocortisone or saline in random order. On both occasions, a pancreatic clamp (0.12 μg · kg−1 · min−1 somatostatin, 0.05 mU · kg−1 · min−1 insulin, and 3 ng · kg−1 · min−1 growth hormone) was used to maintain plasma hormone concentrations at desired levels. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased to ∼970 nM during cortisol infusion. Palmitate rate of appearance (Ra) and concentration increased by ∼60% during cortisol infusion but did not change during saline infusion. Increments in palmitate Ra and concentration over the 6-h study were significantly greater during cortisol than saline infusion when compared by area-under-the-curve analysis (152 ± 52 vs. −48 ± 23 μmol · kg−1 and 12.2 ± 4.1 vs. −4.9 ± 4.1 mmol · min−1 · L−1, respectively; P < 0.02). Plasma glucose concentrations did not change significantly during cortisol (5.0 ± 0.3 vs. 6.1 ± 0.6 mM, NS) or saline (4.9 ± 0.2 vs. 4.9 ± 0.1 mM, NS) infusion. In nondiabetic volunteers, a 6-h cortisol infusion was associated with a 60% increase in palmitate Ra that did not occur with saline infusion. Thus, physiological hypercortisolemia may contribute to the increased rates of lipolysis observed in humans during stress.

Insulin Dose-Response Characteristics for Suppression of Glycerol Release and Conversion to Glucose in Humans

To compare the dose-response characteristics for suppression of lipolysis and suppression of glucose production by insulin, 13 normal nonobese individuals were infused with insulin at rates of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mU · kg−1 · min−1 while normoglycemia was maintained with the glucose clamp technique. Glucose appearance and glycerol appearance (taken as index of lipolysis) were measured isotopically with simultaneous infusions of 3-[3H]glucose and U-[14C]glycerol. Baseline glucose and glycerol rates of appearance were 14 ± 0.5 and 1.7 ± 0.2 (μmol · kg−1 · min−1, respectively. Approximately 3% of plasma glucose originated from glycerol, and this accounted for ∼50% of glycerol disposal. During the insulin infusions, arterial insulin (basal, 9.8 ± 0.6 μU/ml) increased to 14 ± 0.5, 20 ± 0.5, 31 ± 1, 58 ± 2, and 104 ± 6 (μU/ml; calculated portal venous insulin (basal, 24 ± 2 μU/ml) increased to 26 ± 1, 32 ± 3, 70 ± 4, and 115 ± 6 JJLU ml. The rate of glucose appearance was suppressed 100%, whereas the rate of appearance of glycerol was maximally suppressed only 85%. Nevertheless, the insulin concentration that produced half-maximal suppression of glucose appearance was twice as great as that required for half-maximal suppression of glycerol appearance (26 ± 2 vs. 13 ± 2 μU/ml, P < .001). Insulin decreased both the absolute rate of glycerol conversion to plasma glucose and the percent of glycerol disposal appearing in plasma glucose (both P < .001). These results indicate that in normal humans the suppression of lipolysis is more sensitive to insulin than is the suppression of hepatic glucose production and that in addition to reducing glycerol availability, insulin suppresses glycerol incorporation into plasma glucose by another (presumably hepatic) mechanism.

Insulin regulation of renal glucose metabolism in conscious dogs.

Previous studies indicating that postabsorptive renal glucose production is negligible used the net balance technique, which cannot partition simultaneous renal glucose production and glucose uptake. 10 d after surgical placement of sampling catheters in the left renal vein and femoral artery and a nonobstructive infusion catheter in the left renal artery of dogs, systemic and renal glucose and glycerol kinetics were measured with peripheral infusions of [3-3H]glucose and [2-14C]glycerol. After baseline measurements, animals received a 2-h intrarenal infusion of either insulin (n = 6) or saline (n = 6). Left renal vein insulin concentration increased from 41 +/- 8 to 92 +/- 23 pmol/l (P < 0.05) in the insulin group, but there was no change in either arterial insulin, (approximately 50 pmol/l), glucose concentrations (approximately 5.4 mmol/l), or glucose appearance (approximately 18 mumol.kg-1.min-1). Left renal glucose uptake increased from 3.1 +/- 0.4 to 5.4 +/- 1.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.01) while left renal glucose production decreased from 2.6 +/- 0.9 to 0.7 +/- 0.5 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.01) during insulin infusion. Renal gluconeogenesis from glycerol decreased from 0.23 +/- 0.06 to 0.17 +/- 0.04 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.05) during insulin infusion. These results indicate that renal glucose production and utilization account for approximately 30% of glucose turnover in postabsorptive dogs. Physiological hyperinsulinemia suppresses renal glucose production and stimulates renal glucose uptake by approximately 75%. We conclude that the kidney makes a major contribution to systemic glucose metabolism in the postabsorptive state.

Inverse relationship of leucine flux and oxidation to free fatty acid availability in vivo.

To determine the effect of fatty acid availability on leucine metabolism, 14-h fasted dogs were infused with either glycerol or triglyceride plus heparin, and 46-h fasted dogs were infused with either nicotinic acid or nicotinic acid plus triglyceride and heparin. Leucine metabolism was assessed using a simultaneous infusion of L-[4,5-3H]leucine and alpha-[1-14C]ketoisocaproate. Leucine, alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC), and totalleucine carbon (leucine plus KIC) flux and oxidation rates were calculated at steady state. In 14-h fasted animals, infusion of triglyceride and heparin increased plasma free fatty acids (FFA) by 0.7 mM (P less than 0.01) and decreased leucine (P less than 0.01), total leucine carbon flux (P less than 0.02), and oxidation (P less than 0.05). The estimated rate of leucine utilization not accounted for by oxidation and KIC flux decreased, but the changes were not significant. During glycerol infusion, leucine and KIC flux and oxidation did not change. In 46-h fasted dogs, nicotinic acid decreased FFA by 1.0 mM (P less than 0.01) and increased (P less than 0.05) the rate of leucine and total leucine carbon flux, but did not affect KIC flux. Leucine oxidation increased (P less than 0.01) by nearly threefold, whereas nonoxidized leucine utilization decreased. Infusion of triglyceride plus heparin together with nicotinic acid blunted some of the responses observed with nicotinic acid alone. In that changes in oxidation under steady state condition reflect changes in net leucine balance, these data suggest that FFA availability may positively affect the sparing of at least one essential amino acid and may influence whole body protein metabolism.