Hypoglycemia was induced by intravenous infusion of insulin in six juvenile-onset diabetic subjects. Hemostatic parameters were assessed before insulin infusion and 0, 1, and 2 h after discontinuation of insulin infusion. The onset of hypoglycemia coincided with an enhancement of ADP-induced platelet aggregation in five of the patients; platelet aggregation returned to normal levels during the next 2 h. The recalcification time was significantly shortened at the onset of hypoglycemia and continued to decrease for the next 2 h despite the return of serum glucose to normal levels. Correspondingly, a significant increase in fibrinogen was found. The ethanol gelation test was positive in two patients 2 h after stopping insulin infusion. Platelet counts decreased significantly after stopping insulin infusion. Thus, insulin-induced hypoglycemia markedly affects hemostatic balance and may potentially lead to intravascular coagulation in juvenile-onset diabetic patients.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-monitoring of blood glucose without a meter.

We studied the reliability of the Chemstrip system in the self-monitoring of blood glucose by diabetic patients. A total of 453 blood glucose values obtained by 38 diabetic patients using Chemstrip were compared with the glucose values of the same blood samples measured with a conventional laboratory method. We found a definite tendency at concentrations less than 320 mg/dl for patient-read Chemstrip values to be too low. Also, we found a wide range in laboratory values corresponding to a given patient-read Chemstrip value. However, a better agreement between Chemstrip and laboratory values was obtained when the Chemstrips were read by trained staff. We recommend, therefore, that the use of Chemstrip in the self-monitoring of blood glucose can be restricted to patients who have shown competence in the use of Chemstrip during prior testing.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of Hypo-test, a semiquantitative audio urine-glucose analyzer for blind diabetic individuals.

Hypo-test (Hypoguard Ltd., Suffolk, United Kingdom), a new semiquantitative audio urine-glucose analyzer for blind diabetic individuals, was tested for accuracy and reproducibility against a laboratory glucose method, and for ease of operation by two blind diabetic subjects. Hypo-test results were accurate for urine glucose in the range 0-0.75%, but there was a pronounced tendency for results to be too low at higher urine-glucose concentrations. The reproducibility at high urine-glucose concentrations was poor, and the meter was too sensitive to delays or decreases in the prescribed timing procedure. However, the two blind diabetic subjects found the instrument easy to operate.

Adult↗