[Effect of oral contraceptives on plasma insulin and blood glucose levels after long term use (author's transl)].

Blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (0.33 g/kg body weight) performed on 75 subjects. Various types of oral contraceptives were taken for an average period of 6.5 yrs. The cases were divided into several groups in order to examine the effect of combination-type drugs (group A; n= 40) and sequential-type drugs (group B; n = 23) separately. A third group had used both types of drugs (group C; n = 13). Fifteen women who have never taken hormone drugs served as control group. It was found that plasma insulin levels, blood glucose and k-values were not significantly elevated in the drug treated groups. The duration of treatment does not seem to have an effect on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. In this study the patient's age is the most important associated data, and not overweight, family history of diabetes or past obstetric history. No statistical change in insulin levels, reaction areas of glucose and insulin after IVGTT was seen in any drug treated group.