Suppression of Extrapancreatic Glucagon by Octreotide May Reduce the Fasting and Postprandial Glucose Levels in a Diabetic Patient after Total Pancreatectomy

A 52-year-old woman was treated with sensor augmented pump therapy after undergoing total pancreatectomy for a nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). The secretion of both endogenous insulin and pancreatic glucagon were completely depleted. Octreotide long acting repeatable (Oct-LAR) was administered for the treatment of liver metastasis of NET. Both the fasting and postprandial glucagon levels decreased immediately after the administration of Oct-LAR. In a continuous glucose monitoring analysis, episodes of nocturnal hypoglycemia was found to increase and an improvement of postprandial hyperglycemia was observed. This case suggests that octreotide may reduce the glucose level in both the fasting and postprandial states, in part by the suppression of extrapancreatic glucagon.