Insulin Secretion in Alcoholics in a Withdrawal State

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Abstract
Insulin secretion was studied after stimulation with oral glucose and intravenous glucagon in 23 chronic alcoholics in a withdrawal state. Each subject was studied twice at one week's interval between the examinations. The insulin and C‐peptide responses to glucagon were lower in the early withdrawal state. Moreover, the insulin and C‐peptide increments were, when related to the magnitude of the glycemic stimulus, lower in the early than in the late withdrawal state. The fasting values of blood glucose, insulin and C‐peptide and the blood glucose and C‐peptide levels after oral glucose were higher in the early withdrawal state. These findings indicate that glucose metabolism in alcoholics in a withdrawal state can be disturbed by impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance.