Low-dose insulin infusions in diabetic patients with high insulin requirements.

Six patients with high insulin requirements (range 120-3000 units daily) have been infused with much smaller doses (range 50-63 units daily) of insulin intravenously. All six maintained adequate glucose homoestasis on this regimen. It is suggested that subcutaneous tissue at the site of injection may alter insulin or impair its absorption. Insulin resistance in some patients may be due to these mechanisms.