[Insulin resistance and characteristics of insulinemia in patients with latent diabetes mellitus and normal body weight].

A study was made of the insulinemic glucose tolerance test per os and sensitivity to hypoglycemia effect of insulin in 30 patients with latent diabetes mellitus and normal body mass. The summary insulinemia (delta S insulin 0-120 min.) insignificantly differed from a control group value though the mean insulin level 5-30 min. after the glucose tolerance test was lowered and 90-120 min. after the test raised. Sensitivity to insulin decreased 5-20 min. after insulin administration. An individual analysis revealed the patients' heterogeneity by both indices which showed reverse correlation (r = -0.49, p less than 0.001). Probably there were two populations in the patients: one was characterized by primary insulin insufficiency and normal tissue sensitivity to insulin, the second one by primary resistance to insulin with a high secretory capacity of B-cells. Under unfavorable conditions the first one can progress to insulin-dependent, and the second to insulin-independent diabetes mellitus.