Very early changes in circulating T3 and rT3 during development of metabolic derangement in diabetic patients

Abstract

Alterations in circulating iodothyronines were studied in 15 juvenile type diabetic patients during the development of metabolic derangement after withdrawal of insulin. By means of measurements of circulating C peptide, one group of patients with and one without residual beta-cell function had been selected. In both groups there was a gradual decrease in serum T3 during the 12-hour period studied after withdrawal of insulin, while an increase in serum rT3 was observed after 4-6 hours. The alterations in serum T3 and the metabolic derangement were significantly more pronounced in patients without than with residual beta-cell function.