MUSCLE GLYCOGEN IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Abstract. The glycogen concentration of m. quadriceps femoris has been determined in 54 cases of newly detected, untreated diabetes between the ages of 2 and 73 years. Muscle samples were taken by needle biopsy technique. The muscle glycogen values of the diabetics were compared to the values of 26 hospitalized non-diabetic patients within the same ages and to a normal material of 228 healthy volunteers. According to the clinical findings the patient material was divided into three groups: juvenile diabetics, insulin-dependent adults and adults independent of insulin. The following results were found: 1 Compared to the values of the control material significantly decreased muscle glycogen was found in all of the types of diabetes examined. 2 The mean glycogen values of the three diabetic groups were significantly different. 3 Apparently there is a relation between the severity of diabetic disease and the muscle glycogen concentration in untreated cases, the lowest values being found in juvenile diabetes and the less decreased values in maturity-onset diabetes. 4 During insulin treatment a rapid increase of the muscle glycogen was observed, especially during the first three days. 5 The results indicate that a peripheral lack of insulin efficacy is the most important cause of low muscle glycogen concentration in untreated diabetes, the details, however, still being obscure.