Abnormalities in insulin response to intravenous glucose in offspring of conjugal (type 2) diabetic parents.

ABSTRACT

Glucose and insulin responses were measured during intravenous glucose tolerance test in 12 normal controls and 16 normoglycaemic adult offspring of conjugal diabetic parents. The glucose response curve and the glucose disposal rate in the offspring were not different from the normal pattern. These subjects elicited a lower first phase insulin (0-10 minutes area under the curve, p = 0.04), lower peak immunoreactive insulin response (p = 0.032) and also showed a delay in the first phase (p = 0.037) compared to control values. The second phase of insulin (11-120 minutes area) was not significantly different in the two groups. These changes could serve as early markers of diabetes in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents.