Computerized glucose clamp method for the determination of insulin sensitivity in diabetic subjects

A new, simplified computerized glucose clamp method was performed for estimation of glucose utilization at the insulin level of postprandial level. The program for the method is based on the mathematical algorithm using values of blood glucose, changes of its concentration and the desired glucose level. The coefficients of variation of the clamped blood glucose values during the last 60 minutes was 6.3 +/- 1.7(%) in normal, 3.7 +/- 0.3(%) in NIDDM, which was within satisfactory limit, and also indicated an attainment of steady state. Glucose infusion curves showed some bumps for the initial 60 min, which did not seriously affect the glucose utilization rate at steady state. In some cases, whose insulin sensitivity was high, CV was not low enough and occasional manual adjustment of K values was required. Average glucose infusion rate was 7.59 +/- 0.85 (mg/kg/min) in normal, and this was significantly lowered in NIDDM (42.3 +/- 3.4) at steady state, indicating a decreased insulin sensitivity for glucose utilization in NIDDM.