Not only a disturbed insulin effect, but also an altered glucagon level plays a central role in type 2 diabetes. This is shown by a new study by the German Diabetes Center (DDZ). Shortly after diagnosis, those affected have around 75 percent higher glucagon levels after a meal than healthy people. This increase is closely related to the fat content of the liver and indicates a so-called hepatic glucagon resistance.

The research team led by Professor Michael Roden, Scientific Director of the DDZ and Director of the Clinic for Endocrinology and Diabetology at the University Hospital Düsseldorf, analyzed blood samples and metabolic parameters from 50 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 50 control subjects with normal blood sugar levels. The data come from the German Diabetes Study, the largest ongoing study on newly diagnosed diabetes in adults in Europe.

The findings, published in the journal Diabetes Care , suggest that the liver is less sensitive to glucagon in type 2 diabetes. As a result, the body releases more of this hormone, which boosts glucose production in the liver. The close connection with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), colloquially fatty liver, underlines the close link between liver health and blood sugar egulation.

The study also has practical relevance: New drug classes that target the glucagon system could play a role in the treatment of fatty liver disease in the future. The researchers also emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment of fatty liver to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Study physician Maximilian Huttasch from the Institute of Clinical Diabetology at the DDZ added: “Early treatment of fatty liver disease could help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Early detection and screening of risk groups is crucial for this.”

The results raise new questions that could be relevant for the development of future therapies. Further investigations are now to clarify whether there is actually a reduced glucagon effect in the liver and whether this can be specifically influenced therapeutically.

Original paper:

Increased Early Postprandial Glucagon Concentrations in Humans With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes and Steatotic Liver Disease | Diabetes Care | American Diabetes Association

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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