Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Response to Glucose in Two Large Families with Diabetic Mothers in the First Generation

Abstract

The intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose infusion was studied in two large families with diabetic mothers in the first generation, 42 family members in all. Manifest diabetes occurred in only one subject who belonged to generation II, while decreased glucose tolerance was much more common. Delayed and decreased initial insulin response to glucose was observed in the majority of the family members including those with normal glucose tolerance. The frequency of low insulin response diminished with each generation. These findings, together with previous ones on healthy monozygotic twin sibs of diabetic patients, indicate that a decreased initial insulin response to glucose may be an inherited and predisposing factor in diabetes mellitus. The present material is insufficient to allow any conclusions regarding the inheritance of this factor. However, it emphasizes the necessity of studying the pattern of insulin secretion when investigating the mode of inheritance of, diabetes.

Key words

Insulin Response - Family Study - Inheritance of Diabetes - Glucose Tolerance

1 Supported by generous grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B70-19X-34-06B) and Knut and Alice Wallenberg's Foundation.