Our perspective about glucose toxicity as it pertains to the pancreatic ß-cell is that the characteristic decreases in insulin synthesis and secretion are caused by decreased insulin gene expression.

Changes of glucokinase induction are probably significant when the ß-cell adapts to altered mean blood glucose levels during extended exposure as it occurs in diabetes or hypoglycemia.

Glucokinase (GCK) is the enzyme which sensors glucose level in pancreatic beta cells. If glucose reaches the threshold of the enzyme, the pancreas releases its insulin. MODY variants (=mutations) in ...