[Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in patients with hyperthyroidism. Pathogenesis of disturbances and...

Abnormalities of carbohydrate metabolism have been frequently reported in hyperthyroid patients. Disturbed glucose tolerance might be due to increased hepatic glucose production, altered insulin metabolism, increased response to beta-adrenergic stimuli and elevated plasma FFA levels. These disturbances very often disappear when remission of thyrotoxicosis is attained during-treatment with thyrostatic drugs. Non-selective or selective beta 1-adrenoceptor blocking agents does not impair the glucose stimulated insulin secretion or the carbohydrate tolerance and impaired glucose tolerance disappear when glycolytic blockade is attained.