Post-GLUT-2 defects in beta-cells of non-insulin dependent diabetic obese rats

Analysis of insulin responses of obese prediabetic and diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats to glucose and to the glucose metabolites, D-glyceraldehyde and monomethyl succinate, help determine the defects associated with loss of the glucose transporter GLUT-2 in beta-cells of non insulin-dependent diabetic obese rats. Diabetic ZDF rats show impaired insulin responses to glyceradehyde, monomethyl succinate and glucose. The impaired responses are greatest for glucose and lowest for monomethyl succinate, confirming the occurrence of defects at multiple sites in glucose metabolism.