Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Type II Diabetes in African-Americans: The significance of insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and glucose effectiveness

Abstract

Our present study demonstrates that African-American patients with IGT and mild type II diabetes have significant reduction in beta-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and BEI but have normal and intact Sg and GEZI when compared with NGT subjects. We conclude the following: 1) a reduction in Sg does not appear to play a significant role in the pathogenetic mechanism of IGT and type II diabetes in African-American patients, and 2) the intact Sg in the IGT and type II diabetic groups could serve as a compensatory mechanism for hyperglycemia in African-Americans.