Changes in glucose tolerance, insulin, serum lipids and lipoproteins in patients with renal failure on intermittent haemodialysis.

Fasting serum lipids and lipoprotein patterns, glucose tolerance and serum insulin response to glucose were investigated in eight patients with renal failure on intermittent haemodialysis and five normal controls. The mean 0·5, 1 and 2 hr blood glucose values were significantly higher in patients compared with controls but there was no significant difference between patients and controls in respect of fasting serum insulin levels or the insulin response to glucose. Six of the eight patients showed hypertriglyceridaemia (hyperprebetalipoproteinaemia).