[Catecholamine excretion in insulin-treated diabetic patients].

The urine excretion of the catecholamines adrenalin, noradrenalin and dopamine as well as the serum levels of cortisol and STH were determined with the aim to establish objective criteria for a "latent" hypoglycaemia in diabetics. The altogether 45 insulin-requiring diabetics had no hypoglycaemia (n = 28) and the decrease of blood sugar, respectively, occurred during the daytime (n = 6) or at night (n = 11). From the results no significance for the catecholamines as parameters of a hypoglycaemia that happened long ago can be derived. Deviation in the circadian rhythms of the cortisol levels in diabetics with hypoglycaemias need the securing by further investigations.