Insulin Binding to Erythrocytes in Children with Type I Diabetes Mellitus before, and after Insulin Treatment

Summary

¹²⁵I-insulin binding to erythrocytes was studied in 24 children with type I diabetes mellitus before institution of insulin therapy, and in 10 normals. Mean specific ¹²⁵I-insulin binding in the diabetics was significantly lower than in the controls (10.2 ± 0.4% (SEM), as against 11.6 ± 0.5%, P < 0.05). In 8 diabetics the study was repeated after 3-6 weeks of therapy, at which time the insulin binding had increased to normal (12.1%, range 10.7-13.6). No Correlation was found between insulin binding and blood glucose, plasma insulin or plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. We conclude that insulin binding to the receptors is altered in the early phase of type I diabets

Key-Words:

Insulin Receptor - Erythrocytes - Type I Diabetes