Plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone in kindreds with maturity-onset type of hyperglycemia in young people.

Two kindreds affected by maturity-onset type of hyperglycemia in young people were studied. The postglucose-load hyperglycemia segregated as an autosomal dominant trait; it was always mild, never requiring insulin, and generally seemed to start in the first two decades of life. Glucose, insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone were measured during glucose-tolerance tests in patients, relatives, and control subjects. Most hyperglycemic patients were found to have insulin deficiency. There was no correlation between the age of the patients and insulin secretion. Plasma glucagon and growth hormone were normal. Maturity-onset type of hyperglycemia in young people may be a frequent type of hyperglycemia, and its identification will generally depend on the presence of a strong family history. The recognition of maturity-onset type of hyperglycemia in young people as a specific disease different from juvenile, insulin-dependent diabetes is important, especially to prevent unnecessary use of insulin in hyperglycemic children.