Does acute hyperglycaemia influence heat pain thresholds?

The influence of acute hyperglycaemia on pain sensation was assessed in eight young adult non-diabetic subjects. Acute hyperglycaemia was induced with IV glucose in a double blind fashion, with IV saline as a control. Pain thresholds were assessed by a painful heat stimulus delivered by a Marstock thermode on the thenar eminence. Heat pain thresholds did not significantly alter during either acute hyperglycaemia or the control saline infusion. Previous work demonstrating a lowering of electrical pain thresholds by hyperglycaemia has therefore not been confirmed using a natural painful stimulus.