EFFECT OF ESTROGENIC SUBSTANCE ON THE BLOOD SUGAR OF FEMALE DIABETICS AFTER THE MENOPAUSE 1

Abstract

5 diabetic women who had passed the menopause were given intramusc. injs. of estradiolbenzoate (50,000 I.U. daily). In the 4 instances tested, the excretion of follicle-stimulating hormone of the pituitary was significantly decreased by this procedure. A significant lowering of the fasting blood sugar resulted in 2 of the patients in whom the onset of diabetes coincided with the menopause, and probably in a 3d in whom the menopause preceded the diabetes. This effect was probably due to inhibition by the injected estradiolbenzoate of a postmeno-pausal excessive production of the pituitary diabetogenic factor. In the other 2 patients (Cases 4 and 5), there was clearly no effect from the estradiolbenzoate injs. In Case 4, the onset of diabetes preceded the menopause and in Case 5 the menopause preceded the onset of diabetes by at least 7 yrs.