[Regeneration capacity of B-cell function in obese diabetics after weight reduction (author's transl)]

Glucose and tolbutamide-stimulated endogenous insulin secretion were measured in 12 patients with partial B-cell insufficiency (diabetes of the adult type) before and after dietary weight reduction (average reduction 6.7 kg = 8.1% of average initial weight). In three patients there was complete restoration of normal B-cell function with complete remission of the diabetes, in four there was incomplete regeneration of endogenous insulin secretion and of effective insulin reserve. In five patients with less weight reduction there was no response. The mechanism of B-cell function regeneration remains unknown. But weight reduction must be considered as causal treatment in maturity-onset diabetes associated with obesity.