Peripheral glucose metabolism in control subjects and diabetic patients during glucose, glucose-insulin and insulin sensitivity tests

Abstract

Glucose uptake was measured in the deep forearm tissues of four control subjects, and four adultonset and four juvenile-onset diabetics, before and during a glucose tolerance, a glucose-insulin tolerance and a peripheral insulin sensitivity test. 1. The controls showed an increase of glucose uptake above the fasting level in all three tests, more conspicuous in the lean subjects. 2. In the adult-onset type diabetics there was a small increase in glucose uptake after glucose alone, but this was restored to normal by the injection of insulin. 3. No increase in glucose uptake was found in the juvenile-type diabetics after glucose, and very little when insulin was administered. Despite this insulin insensitivity of the peripheral tissues in these diabetics, there is evidence of some insulin sensitive site elsewhere, and the reasons for believing that this is the liver and splanchnic area are discussed. © 1965 Springer-Verlag.