A pharmaceutical composition for treatment for of r afflicted or in risk of becoming of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or type-2 it comprising an effective amount of relaxin for protecting beta-cells and beta-cell function against the effects of high blood glucose (glucotoxicity). Treatment of persons of disglycaemias, and protection of beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and beta-cell function in patients having type-2 diabetes, is diclosed.