INSULIN AND GLUCOSE IN PLASMA FROM UMBILICAL VEIN AND HEEL BLOOD OF NEWBORN INFANTS OF DIABETIC WOMEN

Abstract

The concentrations of insulin and glucose were estimated simultaneously in plasma from umbilical vein and from heel-stab blood of newborn infants of diabetic and non-diabetic women in the fasting state and after glucose injection into the umbilical vein. In infants of diabetic mothers a rapid and high increase in insulin conentration was seen in plasma from the umbilical vein and also, although to a lesser extent, from the peripheral blood. In infants of non-diabetic mothers a slow rise was seen in umbilical vein plasma, but no rise at all in the peripheral blood. The plasma glucose concentration in umbilical vein as well as in heel-stab blood rose and fell without any difference being found between the 2 groups of infants, in contrast to the great differences in their insulin concentrations.