Short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion decreases the plasma vaspin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus concomitant with improvement in insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) on plasma vaspin levels in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHOD

Thirty patients with severe newly diagnosed T2DM, 37 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 38 gender-, age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched normal GT (NGT) controls participated in the study. The T2DM group was treated with CSII for 2 weeks. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps were performed in 16 subjects of the T2DM group. Plasma vaspin concentrations were measured with a commercial ELISA kit. The relationship between plasma vaspin levels and metabolic parameters was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Fasting plasma vaspin levels were higher in the T2DM group than in IGT and NGT groups (1.83±0.55 vs 0.51±0.21 vs 0.53±0.24 μg/l, P<0.05), but there was no difference between IGT and NGT groups. In T2DM patients, fasting plasma vaspin concentrations were significantly decreased after CSII treatment for 2 weeks (1.83±0.55 vs 1.19±0.57 μg/l, P<0.05), accompanied by significant amelioration of insulin sensitivity and glucose control. The changes in plasma vaspin levels were positively associated with the amelioration of insulin resistance (IR) shown by the changes in homeostasis model assessment of IR.

CONCLUSION

Plasma vaspin level is associated with IR and is significantly reduced following short-term CSII treatment.