Study of Glucagon Resistance and Liver Fat in People Aged 30 to 70 with Type 2 Diabetes and Fatty Liver Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how glucagon sensitivity differs in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus T2DM, with or without metabolic associated fatty liver disease MASLD. The study aims to find out if glucagons effects on liver fat oxidation and suppression of VLDL-triglyceride secretion are impaired in these groups. It also explores whether glucagon resistance and MASLD correspond to unusual lipid and metabolite profiles in blood and fat tissue. Participants will receive infusions of low and high doses of glucagon along with somatostatin, insulin, and growth hormone replacements. They will also receive tracers for palmitate, VLDL-triglyceride, and glucose to study metabolic processes. PET scans using 11Cpalmitate will be performed during the glucagon infusions to observe effects in tissues. During the study, participants will attend two short visits and one full-day visit. Assessments include body composition scans DXA, MRI for liver fat measurement, blood tests, ultrasound to assess liver stiffness and scarring, fat tissue biopsies, and an 8-hour hormone and tracer infusion. Researchers will measure liver fatty acid oxidation rates, blood and tissue protein and lipid profiles, glucose production, fatty acid turnover, and VLDL-triglyceride kinetics. The total participation period spans several visits over the study duration.

Glucagon Resistance in Patients With MASLD and T2DM