Leucocyte sodium efflux and electrolyte content in insulin treated diabetes

Leucocyte sodium efflux and sodium content were studied in 41 insulin treated diabetic patients and compared to 41 age, body mass index and blood pressure matched nondiabetic control subjects. Fasting leucocyte 22Na ouabain-sensitive efflux rate constants were lower in diabetic patients (median [range] 2.30 [1.04-3.73] versus 2.45 [1.57-3.95] h-1, p less than 0.4) suggesting a reduced sodium pump activity. The 22Na ouabain-insensitive efflux rate constant which reflects passive sodium efflux was raised in insulin treated diabetes (0.92 [0.42-1.73] versus 0.79 [0.28-1.49] h-1, p less than 0.01). Leucocyte sodium content was raised in the diabetic patients (47.7 [26.9-93.4] versus 26.5 [15.9-67.7] mmol/kg, p less than 0.0001). Abnormal cellular sodium handling could lead to hypertension or other complications in diabetes.