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The insulinemic and glycemic response to a glucose load (100 g per os) was studied in 21 heroin addicts, 16 males and 5 females, age 16–28 years, history of addiction lasting from 6 months to 4 years with heroin alone (from 0.5 to 1.5 g/day i.v.). Nine normal subjects, from the hospital staff, 4 females and 5 males matched for age were used as control. The insulinemic and glycemic response to a glucose load was examined immediately after hospitalization, while the patients were still on heroin, 48 h later off drugs, and in 10 of the 21 cases 5 days later still off drugs.From the results obtained, it appears that in heroin addicts the glycemic response to the glucose load shows a delayed peak time. The insulin curves show increased insulin peaks, delayed peak time and prolonged hyperinsulinemia. The pathomechanism of heroin in inducing the above-mentioned impairments is discussed, taking also in consideration the pos-sible influence of the drug on the neurotransmitter regulation of insulin.

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