[The Biostator in the diagnosis and therapy of organic hyperinsulinism]

In 12 patients with the diagnosis of organic hyperinsulinism the authors examined the carbohydrate metabolism on a Biostator, using the method of stabilized glycaemia. They found a highly significantly reduced tissue sensitivity to insulin at the same time a reduced metabolic insulin turnover as compared with healthy subjects (p less than 0.001). Simultaneously they examined the acute action of diazoxide (Proglicem) treatment to which the patients responded in two ways. In one group a decline of the insulin level occurred and the tissue sensitivity to insulin rose, while patients in the second group responded by a rise of serum insulin but there was no response in the insulin sensitivity. In this second group diazoxide treatment obviously does not eliminate hypoglycaemic attacks. Examination on the Biostator thus makes it possible to decide whether conservative treatment is indicated in organic hyperinsulinism.