Insulin Secretory Capacity and Insulin Resistance in Korean Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

It is well known that many Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were non-obese and had decreased insulin secretion in past. However, during the past three decades, lifestyles in Korea have been westernized. As a result, the prevalence of obesity, the main cause of diabetes has increased. Thus, there is still a question as to whether the main pathophysiology of current Korean T2DM is insulin resistance or an insulin secretion defect. Because various anti-diabetes medications having different mechanisms of action are currently used as therapeutics, it is important to understand which of these factors is the main physiology in the development of diabetes in Koreans. In this review, we review changes in obesity prevalence, insulin resistance and insulin secretion defects in Korean T2DM during three decades.

Failure of monotherapy in clinical practice in patients with type 2 diabetes: The Korean National Diabetes Program

“…In vitro , metformin protected pancreatic β‐cells, whereas sulfonylureas did not. East Asians show lower β‐cell function than do other ethnic groups, and lack the ability to induce early‐stage compensatory hyperinsulinemia during diabetes mellitus development. To overcome β‐cell dysfunction, insulin secretagogues, such as sulfonylureas and meglitinides, can be the preferred drugs for East Asians.…”

Insulin Resistance and Its Association with Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Children

“…Koreans are prone to the development of IR and T2D due to impairment of early-phase insulin secretion capacity [ 5 ]. In addition, lack of physical activity (PA) and excessive caloric intake are becoming more prevalent in Korea [ 6 ].…”

Fimasartan increases glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension compared with amlodipine

“…This finding appears to have implications, given that East Asian populations, such as Korean patients, with type 2 diabetes have early β-cell deterioration with relatively preserved insulin sensitivity compared to their Western counterparts. 36 If the treatment in the present study was applied to large populations for longer duration, it may also reveal favourable effects on glucose homeostasis, suggesting that ARBs are a better choice for the treatment of hypertension in people with type 2 diabetes.…”