MILD DIABETES IN YOUNG SUBJECTS

Abstract

Abstract The clinical aspects and the plasma insulin response patterns in young subjects with mild diabetes are described. Young subjects with mild diabetes have no or very few symptoms and can be controlled by diet or oral antidiabetic drugs. The mild diabetics are divided into two groups according to the fasting blood glucose concentration. Subjects having a normal fasting blood glucose concentration but a diabetic glucose tolerance test are called juvenile glucose tolerance test diabetics and those with elevated fasting blood glucose concentration and a diabetic glucose tolerance test are designated mild juvenile diabetics.It is demonstrated that juvenile glucose tolerance test diabetics have a normal plasma insulin response after i.v. glucose and tolbutamide. The plasma insulin response to oral glucose, however, is weak and slow in comparison to non‐diabetics. In contradistinction, mild juvenile diabetics exhibit a weak and delayed plasma insulin response both to i.v. and oral glucose and to i.v. tolbutamide. In comparison with classic juvenile diabetics, juvenile glucose tolerance test diabetics and mild juvenile diabetics have a much higher plasma insulin level during the tests.