[Measurement of carbohydrate oxidation by means of indirect continuous calorimetry in normal and diabetic subjects].

The use of continuous indirect calorimetry in the course of a 100 g OGTT in 10 normal subjects has shown that carbohydrate oxidation rises with the secondary fall in blood glucose, suggesting that it could result from glucose stored under the influence of insulin. The experimental increase in FFA by a neutral fat infusion in 8 normal subjects decreased this oxidation in spite of the insulin rise. In a group of 5 non-obese, non-ketotic insulin-deficient diabetics, carbohydrate oxidation was found to be normal and directly correlated with plasma glucose levels. On the other hand, in 7 obese diabetics with high plasma insulin levels carbohydrate oxidation was found to be low, suggesting that carbohydrate intolerance could result from the non-oxidation of glucose. This study shows heterogeneity of diabetes, since glucose intolerance could result from non-oxidation of glucose as well as from insufficient pancreatic secretion.