Significant Improvement In Glucose Tolerance Research Articles

The effects of energy and carbohydrate restriction in patients with chronic diabetes mellitus.

Thirty-five freshly presenting, diabetic patients received 5 hour, 100 g oral glucose tolerance tests when first seen and after a period of carbohydrate and energy restriction. After treatment, the significant improvement in glucose tolerance was accompanied by increased insulin secretion and lower concentrations of blood ketone bodies, lactate, glycerol, FFA, triglycerides, cholesterol and pre-beta lipoprotein. There were no significant changes in serum growth hormone or blood pyruvate concentrations. Improvement in glucose tolerance was greater in patients who were obese (greater than 115% of desirable body weight for height) on presentation and was related to the improvement in insulin secretion and the diminished lipolysis. An hypothesis to explain the changes in insulin secretion is prosposed. Eleven out of the 35 patients showed sufficient improvement in glucose tolerance to require no treatment other than diet.

Improvement in Glucose Tolerance of Fasting Obese Patients Given Oral Potassium

Potassium therapy during a 2-week fast led to a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in six obese patients. This improvement was associated with earlier and greater plasma insulin responses than observed when no potassium was given. Fasting for 2 weeks without potassium produced no significant change in glucose tolerance. Fasting with potassium supplementation maintained normal potassium balance and produced a slight rise in total body potassium (K-40). When patients were fasted without potassium, a statistically significant negative potassium balance developed and the total body potassium fell significantly. No correlation between plasmafree fatty acid values and glucose tolerance was observed. Potassium depletion during fasting appears to play a significant ce:roles in the deterioration of glucose tolerance. It is suggested that potassium therapy increases the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin in the presence of hyperglycemia.