Biochemical characterization of ketosis-resistant young diabetics of northern India. In vivo effects of i.v. glucose, s.c. epinephrine and i.v. glucagon and in vitro effects of anti-insulin serum on adipose tissue lipolysis.

Epinephrine (10 micrograms/kg body weight) s.c., glucagon (1 microgram/kg body weight) i.v. and glucose (0.5 g/kg body weight) i.v. were injected in groups of ketosis-prone young diabetics, ketosis-resistant young diabetics, maturity-onset diabetics, young and mature controls, each group comprising 8 subjects. Samples were drawn at timed intervals and analyzed for glucose, FFA, acetone, citrate and plasma free insulin. FFA and glycerol release by the adipose tissue in vitro was studied in 6 of each of the following groups: young diabetics and young controls in the presence of norepinephrine, anti-insulin serum or both. Failure of the adipose tissue of ketosis-resistant young diabetics to respond to lipolytic and ketogenic hormones has been suggested by others as the basis for the clinically observed resistance to ketoacidosis. The present data do not confirm any failure of the liver or adipose tissue to respond to glucagon, epinephrine or norepinephrine in these diabetics. The ketosis-resistant young diabetics have some endogenous insulin secretory capacity still preserved as evident from their basal and post-glucose free insulin levels and effects of anti-insulin serum on in vitro lipolysis by their adipose tissues. The available endogenous insulin though adequate in preventing excessive lipolysis and ketogenesis, appears insufficient to check hyperglycemia.