[Evaluation of the carbohydrate metabolism in the drug addict]

A prospective study to determine the carbohydrate metabolism in 23 intravenous drug users (IVDU) was carried out. 13 of them had no infection complications (group A), while the other 10 had acute associated infectious (group B). Both groups showed basal glycemia, insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, similar to the control determinations. There were no correlations between these parameters and the hepatic function test alterations or the immunological changes in the IVDU. Our results showed that there were no alterations in the carbohydrates metabolism of the IVDU with a normal nutritional state, in spite of the well-known hypoglycemic effects of opiates in the experimental animal mode.