THE INSULIN TOLERANCE TEST IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION 12

Abstract

Insulin tolerance tests were performed on 19 hypertensive and 21 normotensive subjects. No differences were found in the 2 groups in regard to the rates at which the blood sugar decreased after injn. of a standard dose of insulin. The rate at which the blood sugar was restored from its hypoglycemic state to the pre-injn. level was found to be significantly delayed in patients with hypertension. The data suggest that there is no increase in the activity of the anterior pituitary gland or adrenal cortex in patients with hypertension but that there may be a decrease in the responsiveness of either the sympathico-medulloadrenal system or of the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands of such patients.