Blood glucose and serum insulin response in protein-energy malnutrition following nutritional rehabilitation
Das, B.K.; Ramesh, J.; Agarwal, J.K.; Mishra, O.P.; Bhatt, R.P.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 44(4): 230-231
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-6338 PMID: 9718910 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/44.4.230Document Number: 278549
Blood glucose and serum insulin were determined in 15 children with protein-energy malnutrition and 8 healthy children (6-60 months old) in the fasting state and 120 minutes following oral glucose load. The measurements were repeated after normalization of body weight following 6 weeks of nutritional rehabilitation. Fasting blood glucose increased in the post-treatment period and became comparable to the control value. The abnormal blood glucose response to oral glucose load also normalized. The serum insulin level increased (P<0.001) in the post-treatment period but failed to normalize. The response to oral glucose load was similar. It is concluded that the observed lower insulin response, despite normoglycaemia, after 6 weeks of nutritional rehabilitation indicates persistence of hormonal imbalance which may need a longer duration of rehabilitation for full recovery.