Effect of short-term prednisone on beta-cell function in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy subjects

Abstract

Contrary to the assumption that insulin resistance is the main driver of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia, results indicate that decreased beta-cell insulin secretion is the more likely cause in those with T2DM. This is evidenced by significant drops in C-peptide AUC and HOMA-%B and increased glucose AUC in T2DM group only. These results may be caused by increased beta-cell fragility along with reduced recovery ability after glucocorticoid exposure. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03661684.