Metabolic and endocrine studies in a case of lipoatrophic diabetes

A 20-yr-old female with congenital lipoatrophic diabetes was studied, with the following findings: (1) Serum insulin levels increased after both oral glucose and intravenous arginine administration; there was no growth hormone response to the latter. (2) The infusion of insulin (0.1 units and 0.5 units/kg) during the fed state and following at 110-hr fast produced only minimal changes of various fuels measured, with the exception of a decrease in the branched-chain amino acids. (3) There was a minimal production of ketones during the 110-hr fast. (4) Matabolic expenditure was markedly increased during the postabsorptive state (65-75 kcal/hr/sg m); it fell into the normal range during the 110-hr fast (31-35 kcal/hr/sq m). (5) Following meals, the patient experienced complaints ranging from cold and shivering to feeling hot with gross diaphoresis. These findings were associated with intermittent lability of her skin temperature, which varied 1 degree - 2 degrees F during a 3-hr period. (6) Progressive increases in doses of regular insulin before each meal resulted in up to a total of 9000 units/day being required before normal blood glucose levels were achieved. (7) A 2-wk therapeutic trial of pimozide provided no significant changes in a variety of hormones and fuels in the basal state or following insulin perturbations. (8) A variety of pituitary hormones and pituitary target organ hormones were studied in both the hypothyroid (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and euthyroid state (following thyroid replacement). All the hormone responses were normal except that growth hormone did not rise during the slow wave sleep in either thyroid state.