THE RATE OF GLUCOSE ABSORPTION FROM THE INTESTINE OF DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Diabetic rats store sugar with difficulty and on a high carbohydrate diet consume large amts. of sugar because of the loss in the urine. Even assuming that the intestinal absorption of glucose is proceeding at the same rate throughout the day and night the absorption coefficients are extremely high. The rate of glucose absorption in diabetic rats is compared with the high absorption coefficients obtained under other conditions of voluntary glucose feeding and contrasted with the low coefficients reported under conditions in which glucose was given by forced feeding. Some of the possible reasons for the low glucose absorption rates found under the latter abnormal conditions, long considered the true picture of this intestinal function,, are discussed.