The relationship of insulin secretion and GAD65 antibody levels at diagnosis on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if pretreatment insulin and C-peptide levels together with antibody status are predictive of HbAlc levels before and during therapy in obese African-American youth with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Records of African-American patients with clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were retrospectively analyzed. Insulin, C-peptide, blood glucose, HbA1c and islet autoantibodies at diagnosis were recorded. These variables were compared with HbA1c levels during therapy.

RESULTS

Eight of 45 patients were islet autoantibody positive. There was no difference in age, Body Mass Index z-score, insulin, C-peptide, glucose or HbAlc levels between antibody positive or negative patients. Insulin (r = -0.45, p < 0.01 n=45) and C-peptide (r = -0.59, p < 0.001, n=36) were correlated with HbA1c at diagnosis but not during therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher insulin levels were associated with lower HbA1c at presentation but not during therapy. Antibody status was not associated with differences in insulin, C-peptide levels or HbAlc level.