Pancreatic beta-cell function in tropical pancreatic diabetes.

Individuals with tropical pancreatic diabetes (TPD) have features of malnutrition and insulin-dependent diabetes but do not exhibit ketosis on withdrawal of insulin. Fasting and postglucose C-peptide responses were assessed in TPD and compared with noninsulin-dependent (NIDDM), insulin-dependent (IDDM), and control groups, matched for body weight. The C-peptide concentrations were lower in TPD in comparison with the controls and NIDDM patients but were significantly higher than in classical IDDM. It is likely that the higher C-peptide is responsible for the ketosis resistance in these patients.