[Insulin and proinsulin content in the blood plasma in diabetes mellitus, determined by means of the gel filtration method].

With the aid of a simplified method of gel filtration the authors carried out separate determination of the immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and immunoreactive proinsulin (IRP) in 11 obese patients with diabetes mellitus and in 7 healthy persons during oral glucose tolerance test (GTT). In the presence of higher IRI, IRP, and general immunoreactivity (GIR) levels in patients in comparison with healthy persons the changes in IRI were similar to those of GIR in both groups: in healthy individuals the peak was observed 60, and in patients--120 minutes after glucose administration. A rise of IRP content occurred in both groups in 90 minutes, but in sick persons it was preceded by reduction of its level. In comparison with healthy individuals, the percentage of IRP from the sum total immunoreactivity was increased in the group of obese diabetes mellitus patients.