A study of insulin tolerance and glucose tolerance tests on normal infants

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2> Insulin tolerance tests were performed on twenty-five mormal infants between 2 and 22 months of age, and the glucose tolerance test also was done on twelve of these infants in an effort to find a normal response with which curves from patients presenting a hypoglycemic syndrome might be compared for diagnostic purposes. The study revealed that the fasting blood sugar values varied from 52 to 95 mg. per cent with an average value of 71.5 mg. per cent in thirty-seven determinations by a micromethod. The glucose tolerance test was shown to exhibit great variations and therefore to be of little value in children below the age of 2 years. The insulin tolerance test is safe and may be employed in younginfants. The curves obtained from the insulin tolerance tests were found to bemuch lower than published results of similar tests on older children. Two cases were presented in which the insulin tolerance test would have led to erroneous conclusions. The insulin tolerance test appears to be of value in diagnosing hypoglycemia or hyperinsulinism, but by itself it does not warrant a diagnosis of such conditions.