Reduced postprandial hyperglycemia after subcutaneous injection of a somatostatin-analogue (SMS 201-995) in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The effect of a new octapeptide analogue of somatostatin (SMS 201-995) on blood glucose and gut hormone levels was studied in 10 C-peptide-negative, insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) subjects. On separate days, either 50 or 100 micrograms SMS or placebo was s.c. injected simultaneously with an identical insulin dose 30 min before a mixed meal. Postprandial blood glucose decreased after 100 micrograms SMS s.c. within 30 min from 8.9 +/- 0.7 to 7.8 +/- 0.6 mmol/L (P less than 0.001) and remained at similar levels during 180 min. In contrast, postprandial blood glucose concentration increased after placebo from 9.9 +/- 0.8 to 13.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/L (SMS versus placebo P less than 0.001). Plasma glucagon decreased rapidly after SMS to the limit of detection (P less than 0.001) and remained lowered during 180 min; in contrast, glucagon levels increased after the meal during the placebo study (SMS versus placebo P less than 0.001). Plasma growth hormone concentrations were significantly lower after SMS than after placebo (P less than 0.05). SMS abolished completely the postprandial increase in plasma gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride concentrations decreased after SMS, reaching significantly lower levels than after placebo (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01), respectively). Plasma SMS concentration increased rapidly after s.c. administration of SMS; its appearance preceded that of plasma free insulin after s.c. insulin injection. Fifty micrograms SMS was similarly effective as 100 micrograms in decreasing blood glucose, triglycerides, glucagon, and gut hormone concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)