Deranged insulin-secretory dynamics in offspring of two diabetic parents after double stimulation with intravenous glucose

Nine offspring of two diabetic parents and 18 normals were studied with two intravenous glucose loads (o.5 gm./kg. body weight), 60 minutes apart. By thus stressing the beta cell, subtle defects could be identified in the prediabetics: (1) An inverse relationship between insulin peak response and insulin concentration 60 minutes postglucose was seen, a phenomenon exactly the opposite to that seen in normals. (2) Insulin peak response was delayed slightly after the first pulse and significantly after the second. (3) A less effective handling of the glucose load when compared with normals was brought out by the second stimulation. (4) There was a significant reduction in the insulin response per unit change in glucose after the first glucose pulse that was accentuated after the second pulse. This double-stimulation technique amplifies previously detected slight but significant defects in insulin secretion that might help to identify a diabetes-prone population.