ABSTRACT
Patients with gastrointestinal malignancy demonstrate impaired postoperative glucose disposal (17.5 +/- 1.4 mumol/kg min vs 28.9 +/- 2.5 mumol/kg min; P less than 0.001) and a reduced insulin response, during steady state hyperglycaemia, when compared with control. Analysis of glucose disposal when compared with insulin concentration suggested insulin resistance as a factor in the causation of impaired glucose disposal. In the control group both glucose disposal and insulin response demonstrated a negative correlation with malnutrition score (as assessed by a 13 factor, three grade scoring system), whereas in the cancer group only the insulin response was related to malnutrition score. However, the insulin response in the cancer group was quantitatively different from control subjects. The possible clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/metabolism , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/blood , Adult , Aged , Female , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/physiopathology , Glucose Clamp Technique , Humans , Insulin/blood , Insulin Resistance , Male , Middle Aged , Nutritional Status , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
Patients with gastrointestinal malignancy demonstrate impaired glucose disposal during steady state hyperglycaemia, 20.5 +/- 1.4 mumol/kg min when compared with controls 28.2 +/- 2.2 mumol/kg min. This appears to be unrelated to antecedent weight loss, but is related to the presence of metastatic spread (P less than 0.05). Insulin response to hyperglycaemia is normal, but analysis of glucose disposal with time suggests insulin resistance as a factor in the causation of impaired glucose disposal. Free fatty acid levels fail to suppress in cancer patients but their role in the causation of insulin resistance remains unclear.
