[Intermittent peritoneal chronic dialysis in diabetic patients: effect of the technique on blood glucose and protein loss during the procedure].

We performed a prospective study in 4 diabetic (one insulin dependent) patients with end stage chronic renal disease, in whom intermittent peritoneal dialysis was performed with and without addition of insulin to the dialysate. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin were compared to those obtained in 5 non-diabetic controls. With no insulin added, absolute changes in glucose and insulin from predialysis levels were similar in diabetics and non-diabetics. The addition of insulin to the dialysate did not modify nitrogen losses through the peritoneal membrane. The absorption of glucose from the dialysate fluid in the presence of insulin was greater in diabetics than in non-diabetic patients (p less than 0.01).