Assessment of islet ?-cell function: from basic research to clinical practice / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

The deficiency in islet ?-cell secretion and (or) the decrease in insulin sensitivity of target tissue are the important pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetes. The methods for the assessment and evaluation of ?-cell function can be divided into: pulsatile insulin secretion, glucose secretagogues, non-glucose secretagogues (phase, peak value and duration) and other secretions. While the suitable method was chosen for the evaluation of ?-cell function, the sensitivity and specificity of different methods in the natural history of diabetes and the objective of evaluation should be all taken into account.