Effect of haemodialysis on insulin requirements in uraemic diabetic patients. Studies with the artificial beta-cell
Schmitz, O.
Proceedings of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association. European Dialysis and Transplant Association 19: 769-772
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0071-2736 PMID: 6348766 Document Number: 214141
This study investigates the effect of dialysis on the 24-hour insulin requirements in uraemic insulin dependent diabetic patients maintained at normoglycaemia using an artificial beta-cell. Five patients were studied twice, namely before initiation of dialysis treatment (mean 14 days) and after a mean of 46 days on chronic dialysis. The mean total diurnal insulin consumption was reduced significantly from 44.7 +/- 2.9 U (mean +/- SEM) before dialysis to 35.0 +/- 2.3 U after dialysis therapy (p less than 0.01). The reduction included the prandial as well as the basal insulin requirements (p less than 0.02). It is most likely that an insulin receptor or a post-receptor defect account for the insulin insensitivity present in uraemia. Our study demonstrates that this defect is at least partly reversible after dialysis treatment.