Although GLP-1 has been suggested as a major factor for the marked improvement of glucose tolerance commonly seen after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), several observations challenge this hypothesis. To better understand the role of GLP-1 in the remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) long term after SG in humans, we conducted two separate cross-sectional studies: 1) the GLP-1 response to a standardized mixed liquid meal (SMLM) was compared in subjects with T2DM antedating SG but with different long-term (>2 years) T2DM outcomes (remission, relapse, or lack of remission) (study 1) and 2) the effect of GLP-1 receptor blockade with exendin (9-39) on glucose tolerance was examined in subjects with T2DM antedating surgery, who had undergone SG and presented with long-term T2DM remission (study 2). In study 1, we observed a comparable GLP-1 response to the SMLM regardless of the post-SG outcome of T2DM. In study 2, the blockade of GLP-1 action resulted in impaired insulin secretion but limited deterioration of glucose tolerance. Thus, our data suggest the enhanced GLP-1 secretion observed long term after SG is neither sufficient nor critical to maintain normal glucose tolerance in subjects with T2DM antedating the surgery.GLP-1 has been suggested as a critical mediator for the marked improvement of glucose tolerance in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) commonly seen after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (1). However, this view has been challenged by 1) studies in humans-performed long after RYGB using the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin (9-39) (Ex 9-39)-showing that blockade of GLP-1 action results in marked decrease in insulin secretion but limited impact on glucose tolerance (2,3); 2) data showing the GLP-1 response to meal stimuli does not differ between T2DM patients who after RYGB presented with lack of remission, partial remission, or relapse of T2DM (4); and 3) mouse data demonstrating that whole-body GLP-1 receptor deficiency does not influence the glycemic response to SG (5).To gain further insight into the role of GLP-1 in the remission of T2DM long term after SG in humans, We conducted two separate cross-sectional studies: 1) we compared the GLP-1 response to a standardized mixed liquid meal (SMLM) in subjects with T2DM antedating SG but with different long-term (.2 years) T2DM outcomes (remission, relapse, or lack of remission) (study 1) and 2) we examined the effect of GLP-1 receptor blockade with Ex 9-39 on glucose tolerance in subjects with T2DM antedating surgery, who had undergone SG and presented with long-term T2DM remission (study 2).
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSParticipants in study 1 (n = 23) were selected out of our series of T2DM patients who had undergone SG at least 2 years before study entry (n = 55), of whom 18 (33%), 31 (56%), and 6 (11%) presented with nonremission, remission, or relapse of T2DM, respectively (6,7). All subjects