Abstract
Soon after the introduction of insulin into clinical practice, it was observed that the amount of the new hormone required to control the glycosuria in patients with diabetes mellitus depended in part on the amount of available carbohydrate in the diet. Elaborate attempts were made to establish a quantitative relation between the insulin requirement of the patient and the amount of carbohydrate obtained as such in the food together with that which might arise through the conversion of protein and fat. Some success attended these efforts. It was soon found however that wide variations in the insulin requirement of certain patients occurred from time to time in spite of a constant diet and that enormous amounts of insulin were needed for certain patients. 1 The concept of insulin sensitivity and of insulin resistance thus arose. The precise nature of these states seems to be little understood and the present report is presented in the hope that it may contribute to the solution of this problem.
In a recent monograph, Jensen 2 states that about one unit of insulin per kilogram of body weight is required per day to maintain normal carbohydrate metabolism in the depancreatized dog. In our experience this figure is too low. Most of these animals require from 2 to 3 units per kg if good control of the glycosuria is desired. In comparison with these figures the amounts of insulin required to establish a comparable control of glycosuria in dogs with certain types of partial pancreatectomy seem surprising.
Nine male dogs, varying in weight from 8.2 to 13.4 kg, were operated upon and all of the pancreas removed save for a small portion in the region of the lesser duct.
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