Glucose Metabolism After Kidney Transplantation: Insulin Release and Sensitivity With Tacrolimus- Versus Belatacept-Based Immunosuppression

Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) remains common after kidney transplantation, but controversy persists about its pathophysiologic mechanism.1,2 We previously found that insulin sensitivity at similar oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-derived 2-hour glucose concentrations ([Glc]2h) was higher in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) than in non–transplant recipient general population controls, whereas insulin release was lower.3 Our earlier study lacked a transplant control group, and the KTR group comprised both tacrolimus- and cyclosporine-treated patients, although tacrolimus and cyclosporine portend meaningful differences in diabetes risk.