Postoperative glucose metabolism in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy

Patients with gastrointestinal malignancy demonstrate impaired postoperative glucose disposal (17.5 +/- 1.4 mumol/kg min vs 28.9 +/- 2.5 mumol/kg min; P less than 0.001) and a reduced insulin response, during steady state hyperglycaemia, when compared with control. Analysis of glucose disposal when compared with insulin concentration suggested insulin resistance as a factor in the causation of impaired glucose disposal. In the control group both glucose disposal and insulin response demonstrated a negative correlation with malnutrition score (as assessed by a 13 factor, three grade scoring system), whereas in the cancer group only the insulin response was related to malnutrition score. However, the insulin response in the cancer group was quantitatively different from control subjects. The possible clinical implications of these findings are discussed.