Plasma Insulin A-Chain in Obesity and Diabetes

Abstract

The responses of the plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and insulin A-chain (IRA) to glucose loading were studied in normal, obese nondiabetic, obese diabetic, and non-obese diabetic subjects. Fasting IRA was elevated above the normal values for the 3 latter groups. A significant rise in IRA occurred following glucose only in the obese diabetics. Greater variability occurred in IRA than in IRI responses, although all cases of exaggerated IRA response also showed a correspondingly high IRI response. The converse was not true.