BLOOD SUGAR IN HYPERTHYROIDISM

Abstract

Since, and even before, the advent of modern methods for the determination of blood sugar, the spontaneous glycosuria so frequently observed in patients suffering from hyperthyroidism has led several investigators to make studies on blood sugar in this disease. These studies have led to conflicting results. Tachaw¹ and Flesch² found an alimentary hyperglycemia in some cases, but not in others. In forty cases the latter investigator reported not a single instance of spontaneous hyperglycemia. On the other hand, Geyelin,³ from a study of twenty-seven cases of hyperthyroidism, concludes that an unmistakable hyperglycemia can be demonstrated in 90 per cent. of the moderate and severe cases, while even in mild types of the disease an alimentary hyperglycemia (two hours after 100 gm. of glucose) could frequently be demonstrated. In view of this lack of uniformity in the results reported, it has seemed worth while to carry out a series of experiments