INSULIN RESISTANCE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Insulin resistance may occur because of the failure of absorption or excessively rapid excretion of administered insulin. Insulin resistance has occurred under conditions which might facilitate destruction of insulin in the blood or tissues, such as in (1) states associated with abnormal leukocytic activity, e.g., leukocytosis, eosinophilia, leukemia; (2) in endocrine diseases accompanied by an excessive output of hormonal antagonists; and (3) in allergic states associated with the development of insulin-neutralizing antibodies. Insulin resistance has also been reported in acidosis, infection, or diffuse hepatic disease with defective glycogen storage. Occasional patients with diabetes mellitus are encountered in whom no recognizable cause of insulin resistance can be found despite careful study. Three patients with diabetes mellitus who exhibited spontaneous development and subsequent recession of insulin resistance during a 2-3 yr. period of observation are reported. The known causes of insulin resistance including the presence of insulin-neutralizing antibodies were investigated in each case using both an in vitro and in vivo technique. These investigations were completely negative. The necessity for giving sufficient amts. of insulin in the presence of complicating acidosis or infection is emphasized. The maximum daily insulin requirement reached 2,150 units in one case. The various therapeutic measures included taurine and stilbesterol, but it was concluded that the improvement in each case was spontaneous and unrelated to therapy.

This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit: