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Biomedical subjects

J M Steel

Publications and source records attributed to J M Steel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Insulin action and pharmacokinetics in insulin treated diabetics during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Insulin action and pharmacokinetics were compared, using the euglycaemic insulin clamp technique, in seven insulin-treated diabetics during the third trimester of pregnancy and one to three weeks post-partum. At an insulin infusion rate of 1 mU/kg/min, insulin mediated glucose disposal was significantly greater (p less than 0.02) following delivery (1.194 +/- 0.138 mmol/m2/min) than in pregnancy (0.761 +/- 0.072 mmol/m2/min) and the rate of decline in insulin mediated glucose disposal, at the end of the insulin infusion, was significantly greater (p less than 0.02) following delivery (24.78 +/- 4.22 mumol/m2/min2) than in pregnancy (15.17 +/- 2.00 mumol/m2/min2). The metabolic clearance rate, distribution space and pharmacological half-life of insulin were not significantly altered by pregnancy. These findings show that the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with steady state insulin resistance accompanied by a reduced rate of insulin deactivation, but normal insulin pharmacokinetics.

Adult↗

Sexual responsiveness in diabetic women.

Sexual responsiveness in 82 Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic women was compared with that of 47 normal control subjects, using an interview method for rating various aspects of sexual response, and attitude questionnaires. The diabetic women were questioned about symptoms of autonomic neuropathy, and cardiovascular autonomic nerve function tests were performed. There were differences between the two groups in the reports of vaginal lubrication, but in most other respects the groups were similar. The diabetic women were not less orgasmic, and reported significantly fewer unpleasant feelings during sexual intercourse. They saw themselves and their husbands as less 'potent' than did the normal subjects. The possible enhancing effect of diabetes on the marriage of some diabetic women possibly counteracted the relatively mild physiological deficits involved. There was very little difference in sexual response between women with and without symptomatic autonomic neuropathy.

Adult↗

Insulin immunogenicity in pregnancy: maternal and fetal studies.

Antibodies to insulin were found in 92% of the 138 insulin-treated pregnant diabetic patients studied. No effect of pregnancy was shown on insulin antibody levels. Higher insulin antibody levels were significantly associated with the previous use of conventional insulins. Change from conventional to highly purified porcine insulin during pregnancy produced a significant reduction in insulin antibody levels. The combination of protamine zinc and soluble insulin used before pregnancy was found to be the most immunogenic. Insulin antibodies were freely transferred to the fetus but not detectable after the first 8 months of life. No insulin antibodies were found in the cord blood or during the next few weeks in the infants of mothers who had no antibodies to their injected insulin. There was a tendency for higher insulin antibody levels to be associated with indices of neonatal morbidity but not with percentile birth weights and C-peptide levels in cord sera.

Animals↗

Comparison of the glycaemic effect of fructose, sucrose and starch-containing mid-morning snacks in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Capillary blood glucose levels were measured every 30 min for 2 h after four different 20 g carbohydrate mid-morning snacks of foods containing predominantly fructose, sucrose or starch in eight insulin-dependent diabetics and eight normal control subjects. In the diabetic subjects, there was no significant difference in the glycaemic effect of the four different snacks. This study does not support the view that fructose is a useful alternative sweetener for diabetics or the view that sucrose should be excluded from the diet of insulin-dependent diabetics.

Adult↗

Effect of dietary compliance on metabolic control in insulin-dependent diabetics.

One hundred and seventy eight insulin dependent diabetics (IDDM) have been studied regarding their understanding of and compliance with a controlled carbohydrate diet. Forty per cent could not remember their dietary prescription, 35 per cent did not estimate carbohydrate and many scored badly in a 'quiz' on the carbohydrate content of common foods. Quiz scores were significantly associated with HbA1 levels (P less than 0.001). One hundred and thirty six patients completed a seven-day food record from which the pattern of eating was established. Of these 75 were injecting twice daily short and intermediate acting insulin; in this group there were significant relationships between HbA1 and both care with carbohydrate estimation and eating pattern (P less than 0.05). Thus, in IDDM, the understanding of a controlled carbohydrate diet and adherence to it are associated with better glycaemic control but adequate compliance is rare. Future dietary recommendations for insulin taking diabetics should be simple, easy to understand, acceptable in practice and of proven effectiveness if they are to appreciably influence the quality of diabetic control.

Adolescent↗

Glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations in mothers of large babies.

Mothers who have big babies may have had abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) concentrations were measured on the first or second day after delivery in 50 women who had had babies weighing over the 95th centile for gestational age and in 50 women who had had normal-sized babies (controls). Nine of the mothers of big babies but only one of the controls had an HbA1 concentration above the normal range. All the women had normal glucose tolerance and HbA1 concentrations six weeks after delivery. Measuring HbA1 concentration in the first two days after delivery in mothers of large babies may identify gestational diabetics.

Birth Weight↗

Driving and insulin-dependent diabetes.

A survey of 250 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) holding a full motor vehicle driving licence revealed that 107 (42.8%) had not declared IDD on their application for a driving licence. 70 of these (28% of entire group) claimed that they were unaware of the statutory requirements. There was no difference in the declaration-rate between men and women. 159 patients (66%) declared IDD for their motor insurance. 86 patients (34.4%) had had severe or frequent hypoglycaemia in the preceding six months, during which they had been driving regularly. 34 patients (13.6%) admitted involvement in a driving accident since commencing treatment with insulin, and 13 of these patients were aware that hypoglycaemia had been an important causal factor. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and cataracts was considerable, but few patients (2.4%) had severe impairment of vision in both eyes.

Accident Prevention↗

The significance of pancreatic islet cell antibody and abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy.

Five out of 50 pregnant subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (a 2 hr venous plasma glucose concentration over 6.6 mmol/1) had cytoplasmic islet cell antibody (ICAb cyto) in their sera. Three of these 5 developed unequivocal insulin-dependent diabetes in the first year following pregnancy, while none of the others did so. When taken in conjunction with the presence of islet cell antibody, the severity of impairment of glucose tolerance during pregnancy (but not obesity) was an additional indicator of the likelihood of developing insulin-dependent diabetes during the first postpartum year.

Antibodies↗

Obstetric history of diabetics: its relevance to the aetiology of diabetes.

The birth weights of infants born to patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) and insulin-independent diabetes (IID) before the disease was diagnosed were compared. An appreciable excess of infants above the 90th centile for weight was found, the proportions being 27% of infants born to mothers with IDD and 30% of those born to mothers with IID. These findings suggest that many patients with both types of diabetes have a prolonged period of metabolic abnormality before overt symptoms of diabetes arise and that the apparent acute onset of the disease in patients who are insulin dependent is illusory.

Adult↗