[Free, total and antibody-bound insulin content in newly detected diabetes mellitus patients].

Free, total and antibody-bound insulin blood content was studied before and after intravenous secretin injections in patients with first diagnosed diabetes mellitus and in healthy persons. The content of total and antibody-bound insulin was higher and that of active free insulin comparatively lower in diabetic patients. The secretin test revealed normal beta-cell reserves for the total insulin synthesis and reduced ones for free insulin formation. The treatment with protamine-zinc-insulin provoked spontaneous and stimulated secretion of total and free insulin. The antibody-bound insulin level remained unchanged.