Study of glucose tolerance and the dynamic property of insulin secretion. Analysis of intravenous glucose tolerance test with the aid of a control theory.

The dynamic property of insulin secretion in relation to glucose tolerance was investigated quantitatively during iv glucose tolerance tests in 237 cases. The following results were obtained; 1) Glucose clearance constant (k-value) was not constant but variable with time and should be expressed as a function of time, K(t). In normal glucose tolerance, K(t) became greater with time. 2) Glucose-induced insulin secretion was expressed as the function of a proportional plus derivative response to glucose concentration. A weighting function of derivative response, reflecting the insulin secretion per unit of rate of change in blood glucose concentration, was calculated from blood glucose concentration (input) and insulin concentration (output) by the deconvolution method. It was clearly shown that the gain in weighting function was small and the response was slow even in the individual whose glucose tolerance was slightly impaired. 3) The greater the weighting function, the larger the change in K(t).