Effects of Insulin and Oral Antidiabetic Agents on the Plasma Triglyceride Levels in Lipoatrophic Diabetes

Abstract

Three cases of congenital type of lipoatrophic diabetes were treated with oral antidiabetic agents or insulin for high blood sugar. The plasma triglyceride levels, determined after overnight fasting, were elevated following administration of oral agents or injections of insulin. On these medications, plasma phospholipid and cholesterol also tended to elevate. Paper electrophoresis of plasma revealed an increment of pre-β-lipoprotein. The levels of plasma triglyceride were reduced when doses of oral antidiabetic agents or insulin were kept constant for several days, and further reduction was observed after withdrawal of these therapeutics. These observations suggest that insulin enhances production and secretion of triglyceride in the liver. © 1978, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.