Effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine on counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes

Vanessa J Briscoe, Andrew C Ertl, Donna B Tate, Stephen N Davis, Vanessa J Briscoe, Andrew C Ertl, Donna B Tate, Stephen N Davis

Abstract

Objective: Previous work has demonstrated that chronic administration of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine augments counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in healthy humans. However, virtually no information exists regarding the effects of fluoxetine on integrated physiological counterregulatory responses during hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes. Therefore, the specific aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that 6-week use of the SSRI fluoxetine would amplify autonomic nervous system (ANS) counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Research design and methods: Eighteen type 1 diabetic patients (14 men/4 women aged 19-48 years with BMI 25 +/- 3 kg/m(2) and A1C 7.0 +/- 0.4%) participated in randomized, double-blind 2-h hyperinsulinemic (9 pmol . kg(-1) . min(-1))-hypoglycemic clamp studies before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine administration (n = 8) or identical placebo (n = 10). Glucose kinetics was determined by 3-tritiated glucose. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was determined by microneurography.

Results: Hypoglycemia (2.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l) and insulinemia (646 +/- 52 pmol/l) were similar during all clamp studies. ANS, neuroendocrine, and metabolic counterregulatory responses remained unchanged in the placebo group. However, fluoxetine administration significantly (P < 0.05) increased key ANS (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and MSNA), metabolic (endogenous glucose production and lipolysis), and cardiovascular (systolic blood pressure) counterregulatory responses during hypoglycemia.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that 6-week administration of the SSRI fluoxetine can amplify ANS and metabolic counterregulatory mechanisms during moderate hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. These data also suggest that the use of fluoxetine may be useful in increasing epinephrine responses during hypoglycemia in clinical practice.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00592670.

Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Plasma glucose (A) and insulin (B) concentrations (means ± SE) during hypoglycemic clamp studies in 18 individuals (14 men/4 women) with type 1 diabetes before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine or placebo administration. pre-SSRI, ○; post-SSRI, ▪; pre-placebo, ▵; post-placebo, ▾.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Mean plasma epinephrine (A), cortisol (B), and norepinephrine (C) levels (means ± SE) during the basal period and the final 30 min of hypoglycemic clamp studies in 18 individuals (14 men/four women) with type 1 diabetes before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine or placebo administration. *Plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol levels are significantly increased (P < 0.05) following fluoxetine. pre-SSRI, ○; post-SSRI, ▪; pre-placebo, ▵; post-placebo, ▾.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Mean plasma pancreatic polypeptide (A), glucagon (B), and growth hormone (C) levels (means ± SE) during the basal period and the final 30 min of hypoglycemic clamp studies in 18 individuals (14 men/four women) with type 1 diabetes before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine or placebo administration.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 4.
ΔMSNA (A) and total symptom (B) responses during the final 30 min of hypoglycemic clamp studies in 18 individuals (14 men/4 women) with type 1 diabetes before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine or placebo administration. Data are means ± SE. *MSNA responses are significantly increased (P < 0.05) following fluoxetine.
FIG. 5.
FIG. 5.
Glucose kinetics during the basal period and the final 30 min of hypoglycemic clamp studies in 18 individuals (14 men/4 women) with type 1 diabetes before and after 6 weeks of fluoxetine or placebo administration. Data are means ± SE. *EGP is significantly increased (P < 0.05) following fluoxetine administration.

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