[The historic role of insulin in the physiopathology of the metabolic complications from pancreatic diabetes. Therapeutic implications for somatostatin].

Possible ways in which somatostatin may influence the secretion of glucagon and insulin are discussed. The fact that it is possible to maintain normal blood glucose levels in pancreatectomised animals and in juvenile diabetics totally lacking in insulin, solely by the administration of somatostatin, is emphasised.