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Dual‐hormone treatment with insulin and glucagon in patients with type 1 diabetes
Author(s) -
Reiband H. K.,
Schmidt S.,
Ranjan A.,
Holst J. J.,
Madsbad S.,
Nørgaard K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.2632
Subject(s) - glucagon , medicine , insulin , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , hormone
Summary Intensive insulin treatment in type 1 diabetes reduces the incidence and slows the progression of microvascular and macrovascular complications; however, it is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain. In this review, we propose dual‐hormone treatment with insulin and glucagon as a method for achieving near normalization of blood glucose levels without increasing hypoglycaemia frequency and weight gain. We briefly summarize glucagon pathophysiology in type 1 diabetes as well as the current applications of glucagon for the treatment of hypoglycaemia. Until now, the use of glucagon has been limited by the need for reconstitution immediately before use, because of instability of the available compounds; however, stabile compounds are soon to be launched and will render long‐term intensive dual‐hormone treatment in type 1 diabetes possible. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.