Effect of a 12-hour subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin-14 on blood glucose, insulin and glucagon levels in healthy subjects and insulin dependent diabetics.

We compared the influence of a 12-hour subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin-14 on glucose homeostasis in two normal subjects and two insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD). In all cases, somatostatin infusion led to a decrease of blood glucose during the first hours. The diabetogenic effect of somatostatin was confirmed in normal subjects. Postprandial blood glucose response was exaggerated in one insulin-dependent diabetic while in the other, glucose tolerance was improved. Unexpected high levels of immunoreactive somatostatin were measured in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. They might be due to a decreased somatostatin catabolism.