INSULIN INSENSITIVITY IN OFFSPRING OF PARENTS WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES-MELLITUS

Measurements were made of the plasma glucose and insulin responses to a 75 g oral glucose challenge in 50 Chinese born in Taiwan, divided into two groups on the basis of family history of Type 2 diabetes. Twenty‐five individuals (age 29 ± 5 (±SD) years) had 2 parents with normal oral glucose tolerance, whereas at least 1 parent had Type2 diabetes in the other 25 subjects (age 30 ± 6 years). In addition, in vivo insulin action was estimated by determining the steady‐state plasma glucose concentration during a 3‐h continuous infusion of glucose, insulin, and somatostatin. Steady‐state plasma glucose concentration was used as a measure of insulin‐induced glucose disposal. The 50 subjects were non‐obese, and of comparable gender distribution and body mass index. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in response to oral glucose were similar in the two groups. However, the steady‐state plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in offspring with a family history of Type 2 diabetes when compared by two‐way analysis of variance (mean ± SE was 5.87 ± 0.27 vs 5.12 ± 0.32 mmol I−1). This difference was found despite a significantly (p < 0.01) higher steady‐state plasma insulin concentration during the infusion studies (0.705 ± 0.027 vs 0.643 ± 0.025 nmol I−1) in offspring of people with diabetes. The results support the view that resistance to insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake is present in offspring of diabetic parents. 1990 Diabetes UK