The Insulin:Glucagon Ratio and the Choice of Glucose-Lowering Drugs

The influence of alpha and beta cells, through glucagon and insulin, on energy metabolism is well known. The insulin:glucagon ratio (IGR) is a frequently discussed entity in the medical literature. However, in recent years, focus has shifted to other pathways and markers of health and disease. This communication revisits the insulin:glucagon bipolar axis and describes the significance of the IGR. It reviews the effects of various glucose-lowering drugs on this ratio, and hypothesizes that the ratio can be used to predict the appropriate choice of drugs for managing diabetes. Drugs which increase the IGR may be beneficial in insulinopenic conditions, while those which decrease IGR may be of help in the setting of hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance.