[The rate of cortisol secretion in patients with diabetes mellitus]

Velocity of cortizol secretion (VCS) was studied in 5 healthy individuals and 30 patients with diabetes mellitus by the method of dilution of the isotopic label by the mean specific radioactivity of tetrahydrocortizol and tetrahydrocortisone excreted with the urine. There was revealed a close interrelationship between the activation of the adrenal glands and the extent of decompensation of the disease: during the subcompensation and compensation the VCS of the patients with normal weight was no different from the normal and during the decompensation--increased in the majority of the patients investigated; this elevation was more pronounced in marked glucoseuria. The duration of the disease produced no significant influence on the secretory capacity of the adrenal glands.