Using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity at 3 months following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in type 2 diabetes patients with BMI <35 kg/m(2) in China.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe short-time effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on insulin sensitivity (IS) of Chinese diabetes patients with body mass index (BMI) <35 kg/m(2) by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 15 type 2 diabete mellitus (T2DM) patients with BMI <35 kg/m(2), who underwent laparoscopical Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp were performed at baseline and at 3 months after LRYGB.

RESULTS: The glucose disposal rate (M value) increased significantly at 3 months after RYGB (from 3.36 ± 1.26 mg kg(-1) min(-1) to 6.30 ± 1.3 mg kg(-1) min(-1), p < 0.001). The time to reach euglycemia at the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp reduced remarkably from baseline to 3 months after RYGB (from 114.40 ± 6.11 min to 97.93 ± 8.57 min, p < 0.001). There was a marked reduction in value of HOMA-IR (from 4.47 ± 2.20 mg kg(-1) min(-1) to 2.10 ± 0.75 mg kg(-1) min(-1), p < 0.001). The parameters of body fat distribution (body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip radio) changed obviously after surgery. RYGB caused a significant improvement in fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and insulin, HbAc1. Preoperative M value and the time to reach steady-state correlated with changes of M and the time to reach steady-state at 3 months after RYGB.

CONCLUSION: Peripheral and hepatic IS improved remarkably at 3 months following RYGB, as an important mechanism for early improvement in T2DM patients with low BMI. And the time to reach euglycemia at the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp may be an useful index of assessing insulin sensitivity. It is more reasonal to combine the time to reach euglycemia with M value for assessing IS.