USE OF GLOBIN INSULIN IN ADDISON'S DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH INSULIN-SENSITIVE DIABETES

Abstract

IN 16 cases of coexisting diabetes mellitus and Addison's disease so far reported in the literature, insulin sensitivity has been a frequent occurrence and has presented a difficult therapeutic problem. In three of the cases reported, diabetes developed after the onset of Addison's disease (1, 2, 3). Simpson's (1) patient had been treated elsewhere with epinephrin injections. Following treatment with adrenal cortical extract, hyperglycemia and glycosuria developed within one month. Insulin was administered. This resulted in severe hypoglycemic reactions from even small doses. The patient eventually came to autopsy and the diagnosis of Addison's disease was substantiated. The patient described by Rhind and Wilson (3) was treated with desoxycorticosterone for one year and then developed diabetes. This individual was the only one of fifteen who was apparently not extremely sensitive to insulin. The patient was taking 60 units of insulin per day and eventually expired in a hypoglycemic convulsion.