Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in diabetes mellitus

Forty patients with diabetes mellitus and a reference group of forty-five healthy controls have been studied. Significantly increased serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin were found in the diabetics as well as increased levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphate independent of the duration of the diabetic state. No difference was found in serum calcium levels when compared with the healthy controls. Since these results cannot be explained by diabetes nephropathy an altered balance between parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in diabetes mellitus is postulated.