Opioid receptor activation impairs hypoglycemic counterregulation in humans

Michelle Carey, Rebekah Gospin, Akankasha Goyal, Nora Tomuta, Oana Sandu, Armand Mbanya, Eric Lontchi-Yimagou, Raphael Hulkower, Harry Shamoon, Ilan Gabriely, Meredith Hawkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although intensive glycemic control improves outcomes in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), iatrogenic hypoglycemia limits its attainment. Recurrent and/or antecedent hypoglycemia causes blunting of protective counterregulatory responses, known as hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF). To determine whether and how opioid receptor activation induces HAAF in humans, 12 healthy subjects without diabetes (7 men, age 32.3 ± 2.2 years, BMI 25.1 ± 1.0 kg/m2) participated in two study protocols in random order over two consecutive days. On day 1, subjects received two 120-min infusions of either saline or morphine (0.1 μg/kg/min), separated by a 120-min break (all euglycemic). On day 2, subjects underwent stepped hypoglycemic clamps (nadir 60 mg/dL) with evaluation of counterregulatory hormonal responses, endogenous glucose production (EGP, using 6,6-D2-glucose), and hypoglycemic symptoms. Morphine induced an 30% reduction in plasma epinephrine response together with reduced EGP and hypoglycemia-associated symptoms on day 2. Therefore, we report the first studies in humans demonstrating that pharmacologic opioid receptor activation induces some of the clinical and biochemical features of HAAF, thus elucidating the individual roles of various receptors involved in HAAF's development and suggesting novel pharmacologic approaches for safer intensive glycemic control in T1DM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2764-2773
Number of pages10
JournalDiabetes
Volume66
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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