[Impaired carbohydrate tolerance in patients with hyperthyroidism--evaluation of some influencing factors]

Relation between the appearance of impaired carbohydrate tolerance and such factors as the duration of hyperthyroidism, age of patients, blood serum concentrations of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and free fatty acids, as well as insulin secretion both basal and stimulated by oral and "intravenous glucose administration was studied in 62 patients with untreated hyperthyroidism. Control group consisted of 24 healthy subjects having performed oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Among the studied factors, high blood serum concentrations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, elevated concentration of free fatty acids and defective insulin secretion influenced the appearance of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with hyperthyroidism. No relation was found, however, between the impaired glucose tolerance and the duration of hyperthyroidism or the age of patients.