Biotelemetric detection of the disappearance of subcutaneously injected 125I-NPH insulin.

A biotelemetric method with Geiger-Müller (GM) detectors fixed to the skin surface was used for continuous registration of the disappearance rate of subcutaneously injected 125I-NPH insulin. Methodological problems concerning counting geometry were investigated by comparing the disappearance of radioactivity, measured the GM- and NaI-detectors, respectively, and by scanning of the radioactive source. The size and position of the subcutaneous depot was unchanged throughout the study. Movement artifacts could be avoided. The coefficient of variation for distribution of ratios between count rates for GM- and NaI-detectors was 3.0% +/- 1.1 (SD) (range 0.9-4.0%) over periods of 24 h. It is concluded that the biotelemetry technique proved to be a clinically useful procedure for insulin absorption studies.