Response of Serum Inorganic Phosphate to Insulin in Normal and Diabetic Subjects

Abstract

Summary

Intravenous insulin tests (0.1 U/kg of body weight) were carried out in 42 normal subjects and in 20 diabetics, blood sugar and serum inorganic phosphate being determined before and 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after administration of insulin. The blood sugar fall was found to be less in the diabetic patients at 15 minutes, similar in both groups at 30 minutes and more pronounced in the diabetic at 45 and 60 minutes. The phosphate fall was more pronounced in normals than in diabetics. At 45 minutes for instance, the average fall in diabetics was about 50% that found in normals. If diabetics are classified in 2 groups according to their normal or defective phosphate response to glucose no difference is seen between the 2 groups with regard to their response to insulin. It is suggested that the phosphate fall which takes place in a number of diabetics after the injection of glucose may be in part dependent upon an insulin secretion by the pancreas. It is pointed out that the experimental data thus far accumulated do not permit the assumption that the phosphate fall after glucose represents “peripheral utilization” of the carbohydrate.