Serum insulin, pancreatic glucagon and growth hormone levels in response to intravenous infusion of L-arginine in patients with recently detected juvenile diabetes.

The secretion of insulin, glucagon and growth hormone was determined in the serum of patients with recently diagnosed juvenile-type diabetes (10 patients) during stimulation by intravenous infusion of L-arginine and was compared with the results found in a group of five healthy persons. The value of the insulinemia was significantly lower in the diabetics as compared with the healthy controls. Serum glucagon levels were higher in all diabetics when fasting and after L-arginine administration as compared with the controls but a significant difference was observed only at the peck of secretion (5 min after L-arginine administration). Growth hormone concentration was slightly higher in the diabetics after secretory stimulation than in the controls, particularly at the peak of secretion (30 and 45 min) but the difference was statistically no significant.