Unresponsiveness of GH and cortisol to insulin-hypoglycemia in a patient with sub-total pancreatectomy.

Abstract

Responses of plasma growth hormone (GH) and cortisol to insulin-induced hypoglycemia were repeatedly examined during a therapy of diabetes mellitus in a sub-totally pancreatectomized patient. During a mild control period of diabetes mellitus without any hypoglycemic attacks, insulin-induced hypoglycemia evoked a remarkable increase in plasma GH as well as cortisol while neither GH nor cortisol responded to insulin hypoglycemia during the strict control period with frequent episodesof hypoglycemia.On the other hand, plasma GH and cortisol responses to all other endocrinological stimuli were normal.The mechanism of such impaired hormone secretion during the strict control period of diabetes mellitus in this patientremains unclear.