Near‐normoglycaemic remission in African‐Americans with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with recovery of beta cell function

SUMMARY Aims  To prospectively determine the frequency of remission and possible mechanism of beta cell recovery in non‐Whites with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the setting of intensive glycaemic regulation using pharmacological agents.Methods  Twenty‐six consecutive, newly diagnosed African‐American, Type 2 diabetic patients presenting primarily for severe hyperglycaemia (31.0 ± 12.8 mmol/l) were followed for at least 1 year. Initial hospitalization included treatment with insulin, fluids and electrolytes. Outpatient intensive glycaemic regulation included insulin or glibenclamide, diabetes education and diet that altered nutrient content. Plasma glucose and C‐peptide responses to an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c were measured at < 14, 15–56 and 57–112 days after presentation. Remission was defined as a HbA1c ≤ 6.3% and fasting plasma glucose < 6.9 mmol/l, 3 months after discontinuing all pharmacological agents.Results  Eleven of 26 patients (42.3%) developed remission after a mean of 83 days of pharmacological treatment and remained in remission during follow‐up for 248–479 days; one relapsed after 294 days. Fifteen patients who did not develop a remission and were