Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a high prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism. The pathophysiological cause is uncertain, but disturbances in the secretion, elimination and effect of glucagon, insulin and the two incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), probably play important roles. Our research group has previously found that dialysis patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a reduced incretin effect and an inability to suppress glucagon after a meal - two early pathophysiological characteristics of patients with T2DM and normal kidney function.