Increased insulin binding is not involved in the improved insulin effectiveness of gestational diabetics after hypoenergetic dieting.

125I-Insulin binding to monocytes from 14 gestational diabetics was measured before and after 6 weeks of treatment with a 5500 kJ, low-fat, low-sucrose diet. After the hypoenergetic feeding of gestational diabetics, fasting plasma concentrations of glucose (P less than 0.01) and insulin (P less than 0.05) decreased significantly, whereas insulin binding was unaltered. Provided the monocyte insulin receptor reflects insulin receptors of more determinant tissues for insulin action, our data indicate that an increased insulin receptor binding is not involved in the improved insulin effectiveness of gestational diabetics after hypoenergetic dieting.