The relationship between circulating free and bound insulin, insulin antibodies, insulin dosage and diabetic control in insulin treated diabetics.

Free and bound insulin concentrations, blood glucose and anti-insulin antibody binding characteristics have been determined in 100 insulin treated diabetics; medium serum free insulin was 11 mU/l when fasting and rose to 30 mU/l after the mid-day meal. Significant correlation between blood glucose and serum free (but not bound) insulin was found. No relationship between insulin antibodies and daily insulin dose or diabetic control were found, nor a relationship between free insulin and antibody characteristics.