A. Heffernan

Evaluation of impact on diabetic control of increased surveillance, and of human and U-100 insulins

SummaryTHE present study was designed to examine the impact of increased surveillance, and of human and U-100 insulins. on diabetic control. Forty-eight insulin dependent diabetic patients attended for consultation at a diabetes clinic monthly for 3 months. Thirty-six patients then changed to U-100 and/or human insulins while 12 patients continued their previous treatment for a further 3 months. Increased surveillance in the absence of a specific educational programme was not associated with an improvement in diabetic control. The introduction of human insulin, U-100 and U-40, was not associated with a specific trend in plasma glucose or HbA1 values; however, a modest tendency for increased requirement in short-acting insulin was suggested. At the end of 3 months of treatment with human insulin, no significant change in insulin antibody titre was observed. The introduction of U-100 insulin was not associated with any consistent change in plasma glucose levels or insulin requirement. The present study demonstrates that increased surveillance in the absence of a formal education is not associated with improved diabetic control and that human and U-100 insulins may be introduced under careful clinical supervision, without ontoward events.

A study of adipose tissue fatty acids

SummarySamples of fat were obtained on more than one occasion from healthy subjects whose diets remained unchanged and from both obese and healthy subjects on diets of different composition. Fat was also obtained from hypothyroid subjects before and after thyroid treatment.

A study of serum lipids in normal subjects

Summary(1)The fasting level of total lipids, serum cholesterol and optical density, the lipid tolerance after a 75g. fat meal and the heparin-induced clearing of lipaemic plasma were determined in normal male subjects aged 20 to 69 years.(2)The lipid tolerance was studied at 2 hours and 4 hours after the fat meal, and the results were expressed in two ways.(3)Normal subjects were divided into two groups according to age and the serum lipid levels for each group were compared by the use of conventional statistical methods of means and variances.(4)The total lipids and serum cholesterol were compared for each decade also using means and variances.(5)The serum lipid levels in the normal subjects aged 20 to 29 years were correlated with age and certain anthropometric data and were inter-correlated with one another.(6)The results illustrate the necessity of studying multiple serum lipid factors in the individual.