[Study of blood glucose regulation in 103 cases of adult acquired hypothyroïdism (author's transl)].

Systematic studies of blood glucose regulation have been performed in 103 cases of adult acquired hypothyroïdism. The results were the following: 11 cases of overt diabetes were discovered. The diagnostic was made when fasting blood glucose was superior to 120 mg/100 ml and glucosuria was present. 22 cases of asymptomatic (chemical) diabetes. The diagnosis was based on the abnormalities of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The criteria were those of Fajans and Conn. In 70 cases the results were normal. The comparison of these results with these obtained in a matched population of normal subjects did not show significative differences. Particularly the proportion of "flat curves" during the OGTT were not higher in cases of hypothyroïdism. Plasma insulin levels were determined in 20 cases of hypothyroïdism during OGTT. The results were the same as in non-hypothyroïd subjects. The abnormalities of glucose regulation observed in hypothyroïdism were not related to sex, age, overweight or cause of the disease. The number of diabetic patients is not significatively more important in cases of hypothyroïdism of immunological origin (especially Hashimoto's disease.