Insulin action on glucose kinetics: New developments from a two-compartment tracer minimal model

A two-compartment minimal model of tracer kinetics during a labeled IVGTT (intravenous glucose tolerance test) was proposed recently. The model predicts a plausible time course of hepatic glucose production during the test, thus overcoming the inadequacy of the classical single-compartment tracer minimal model. In the present work, the authors discuss the ability of the model to yield a description of glucose kinetics and the effect of insulin upon it. In particular, it is shown that the model provides metabolic indices measuring plasma clearance rate and insulin sensitivity. Finally, the time course of insulin action and the metabolic indices of the model are compared with those provided by the classical tracer minimal model. The insulin sensitivity indices provided by the two models, when expressed in the same units, are not different and well correlated.