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.
