Effect of ethynodiol diacetate and a combination-type oral contraceptive compound on carbohydrate metabolism. II. One year intravenous glucose tolerance study.

Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured in two groups of women, following one year of oral contraceptive therapy of different types. There were no significant differences from pretreatment glucose and insulin values in the first group of women (on ethynodiol diacetate). In the second group (on norethynodrel and mestranol), there was a significant elevation of mean blood glucose levels in the fasting state and at all times of an i.v. glucose tolerance test. Furthermore, a statistically significant alteration in plasma insulin was observed at all times of the test (except at 120 min). Patients participating in this study will continue this treatment, and results of carbohydrate metabolism monitoring will be reported after 2 years of therapy.