Changes in blood glucose and plasma insulin after intravenous galactose in human injury.

1. The increase in blood glucose after intravenous galactose was measured at 6--8 h and 14 days after hip replacement (14 patients) and accidental injury (14 patients). 2. After hip replacement there was a greater rise of glucose after galactose on the day of the operation than on recovery, despite basal hyperglycaemia. This earlier period was also associated with inappropriately low insulin concentrations for the prevailing glucose concentration, and hyperketonaemia (13 out 14 patients). 3. After accidental injury patients with initial hyperketonaemia (nine out of 14) also had a greater rise of blood glucose after galactose than on recovery and had relative insulin deficiency; in contrast those who were initially normoketonaemic (five out of 14) showed a rise in glucose comparable with that after recovery and basal insulin concentrations more appropriate to the existing glucose concentration. 4. It is concluded that in most subjects after injury hepatic glucose release after galactose administration is not suppressed despite hyperglycaemia.