Plasma glucagon responses in tropical fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes.

Plasma insulin and glucagon responses to a glucose load were measured in a group of patients with fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) and compared with patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and control subjects. Both diabetic groups had markedly diminished insulin responses but the differences between FCPD and NIDDM groups were not significant. In control subjects, in response to the glucose load, plasma glucagon levels decreased while they increased in NIDDM patients. In FCPD patients there was no significant change in glucagon levels in response to the glucose load. The study shows that FCPD patients lack pancreatic alpha-cell responses to a glucose load. This may play a role in protecting these patients against ketosis.