Insulin-independent acute restoration of euglycemia normalizes the impaired glucose clearance during exercise in diabetic dogs

Simon J. Fisher, Michael Lekas, Z. Qing Shi, Debra Bilinski, George Carvalho, Adria Giacca, Mladen Vranic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

At rest and during exercise, chronic hyperglycemia, high free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation, and insulin deficiency in diabetes are well known to impair glucose clearance (metabolic clearance rate [MCR]). The effect of acute restoration of glycemia per se on MCR has been less well characterized. We therefore studied normal and alloxan-diabetic dogs both at rest and during exercise, as diabetic hyperglycemic or after acutely induced euglycemia (<160 min) generated by infusion of either insulin or phlorizin. Glucose uptake was similar under hyperglycemic and normoglycemic conditions both at rest and during exercise, indicating a precise balance between the mass effect of glucose and decreased MCR. Rest and exercise MCR was fourfold lower under conditions of hyperglycemia, but insulin-independent restoration of euglycemia improved basal MCR threefold and normalized MCR during exercise. High FFA turnover did not affect glucose uptake but was correlated with plasma lactate concentrations (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), suggesting that muscle fuel requirements are controlled by glucose oxidation and not uptake. We conclude that in alloxan-diabetic dogs, the impaired MCR may be an adaptive phenomenon because correction of hyperglycemia corrects MCR despite partial insulin deficiency and high FFA turnover. We speculate that constant glucose uptake despite hyperglycemia in diabetes may protect the muscle from excessive exposure to glucose.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1805-1812
Number of pages8
JournalDiabetes
Volume46
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Insulin-independent acute restoration of euglycemia normalizes the impaired glucose clearance during exercise in diabetic dogs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this