[Carbohydrate metabolism and aging-controversy of ethiopathogenesis and pathophysiology. Part II. Changes in beta-cell function].

Many studies suggest the decrease of beta-cell function in people older than 60 years. Age-associated defect of beta-cell function can be detected in loading tests, especially with prolonged intravenous infusion glucose infusion. Pathogenetic mechanisms consist abnormalities in insulin processing, insulin secretion, insulin release kinetics with parallel lower insulin secretion capacity and impossibility of increasing insulin release properly to age-increasing insulin resistance. These pathogenetic changes are related to increase of visceral fat deposits and other mechanisms such as defects in beta cell structure, decrease in glucose and incretins sensing and defective course of replication/neogenesis processes.