3-O-methyl-D-glucose uptake by erythrocytes of normal and diabetic subjects.

The uptake of 3-O-[14C]methyl-D-glucose was measured in erythrocytes of normal and non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. In normal subjects, the uptake of the sugar was rapid, saturable, temperature-sensitive and inhibited by cytochalasin B. Over 30 s incubation at 20 degrees C, the uptake of 3-O-[14C]methyl-D-glucose (20 mM) was lower in diabetic than in normal subjects. These findings raise the view that an alteration of hexose transport into insulin-insensitive cells may participate to the perturbation of glucose homeostasis in diabetic patients.