PLASMA CORTICOSTEROID, PLASMA INSULIN AND BLOOD SUGAR OF NORMAL FASTING AND DIABETIC SUBJECTS WITH OR WITHOUT HYPERCORTICISM

Abstract

ABSTRACT Transient, maximum stimulation with β1–24 corticotrophin has been carried out in nine normal fasting subjects, in two fasting diabetics without hypercorticism and in three fasting diabetics with hypercorticism. Fluorimetric determinations of corticosteroids and determinations of immunological detectable insulin in plasma and blood sugar were made during stimulation. No significant variation in the blood sugar or the plasma insulin during transient, maximum ACTH stimulation was found either in normal fasting subjects or in fasting diabetics with or without hypercorticism. Moreover, in two diabetics with hypercorticism the plasma insulin response was measured during an oral glucose tolerance test. After treatment for approximately seven months with glucocorticosteroids, a reduced glucose tolerance and an increased plasma insulin response were found in one of these two patients. Four and a half months after the termination of steroid treatment, normal glucose tolerance and normal insulin responses were observed. In one patient, after several years of hypercorticism, a reduced glucose tolerance and a markedly reduced plasma insulin response were found.