Diurnal Variations in Blood Glucose, 3‐hydroxybutyrate, Acetoacetate, Plasma Free Fatty Acids and Glycerol in Diabetics

Abstract

Abstract24‐hour studies of the changes of blood glucose, 3‐HB, AcAc, plasma FFA and glycerol have been made in five diabetics on long‐acting insulin and 10‐hour studies in two patients receiving short‐acting insulin. The reduction in the concentration of 3‐HB, FFA and glycerol preceded that of glucose. AcAc initially increased after the administration of insulin. The reappearance of ketonaemia is preceded by an increase in plasma FFA and glycerol by 3 to 4 hours. One patient who was ketoresistant showed no significant increase in plasma FFA or glycerol concentration either during hyper‐ or hypoglycaemia.