Effect of tolbutamide on glucose uptake by leucocytes of patients with diabetes mellitus

¹ Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, New York University-Bellevue Medical Center, New York City

Glucose uptake and lactate production have been measured in suspensions of leucocytes in plasma. The rate of glucose uptake of the leucocytes of diabetics who required less than 30 u of insulin per day did not differ significantly from that of normal subjects and was higher than that of severe diabetics. Two hours after 1 gm of tolbutamide was given intravenously to the diabetic subjects, glucose uptake and lactate production tended to increase in subjects whose blood sugar fell at least 12%. Glucose uptake and lactate production by the leucocytes increased in some, but not in all normal subjects after the oral administration of glucose. Observations on the effects of tolbutamide are compatible with the hypothesis that one effect of the drug is to enhance the secretion of insulin by the pancreas.