<b>Objective:</b> We examined the
glucose-response-curves [<b><u>B</u></b>i<b><u>ph</u></b>asic (BPh), <b><u>M</u></b>ono<b><u>ph</u></b>asic
(MPh),
<b><u>I</u></b>ncessant-<b><u>In</u></b>crease (IIn)], during an oral
glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and their relationship to insulin sensitivity
(IS) and b-cell function (bCF) in youth vs. adults with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2
diabetes.
<p><b>Research Design and Methods:</b> This was both a cross-sectional and
longitudinal evaluation of participants in the RISE study randomized to
metformin alone for 12 months or glargine for 3 months followed by metformin
for 9 months. At baseline/randomization, OGTTs (85 youth, 353 adults) were categorized
as BPh, MPh, or IIn. The relationship of the glucose-response-curves to hyperglycemic-clamp-measured
IS and bCF at baseline, and the change in glucose-response-curves 12 months after randomization were
assessed. </p>
<p><b>Results:</b> At randomization, the prevalence of
the BPh-curve was significantly higher in youth than adults (18.8%
vs. 8.2%), with no differences in MPh or IIn. IS did not differ across glucose-response-curves
in youth or adults. However, irrespective of curve type, youth had lower IS
than adults (p<0.05). bCF was lowest in IIn vs. MPh and BPh in
youth and adults (p <0.05). Yet, compared with adults, youth had higher bCF in BPh and MPh (p<0.005), but not IIn
curves. At month 12, the change in glucose-response-curves did not differ
between youth and adults, and there was no treatment effect. </p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> Despite a 2-fold
higher prevalence of the more-favorable BPh curve in youth at randomization, RISE
interventions did not result in beneficial changes in glucose-response-curves
in youth compared with adults. Moreover, the typical b-cell hypersecretion in youth was not
present in the IIn curve, emphasizing the severity of b-cell dysfunction in youth with this least-
favorable glucose-response-curve.</p>