Pathways of Carbohydrate Formation in Man. II. The Effect of Diabetes and Glucocorticoid Administration on Isotope Distribution in Glucose from Subjects Given 1-C14-Acetate12

Abstract

Two young labile, ketotic diabetics and two stable, middle-aged diabetics (the latter with and without prior administration of delta-1-cortisone) were studied. A 3d stable diabetic clinically had increased adrenal activity. As with non-diabetics, almost all (96 to 98%) of the glucose C14 was found in the 3 and 4 carbons after intravenous administration of l-C14-acetate. Trace amounts of C14 were present in each of the other glucose carbons in the same general amount and pattern as with nondiabetics. The findings fail to provide evidence for the utilization of special metabolic pathways (conceivably involving ketone bodies) which would provide net gain in carbohydrate from fat and be indicated by substantial labeling of the outer carbons of glucose. Significant increase above normal in the amount of C14 in free body glucose occurred with the labile, ketotic diabetics (4% of injected C14) but not with the stable diabetics (2% with or without excess glucocorticoid.