EFFECT OF INSULIN THERAPY ON BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION IN NIDDM PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY SULFONYLUREA FAILURE - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Objective: To clarify the influence of insulin therapy on body weight and fat distribution, we compared these parameters in five non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, with secondary sulfonyl urea failure, before and after insulin therapy. Body weight increased significantly after instituting insulin treatment. However, the viscer al to subcutaneous fat (V/S) ratio decreased significantly due to a ma rked increase in S-fat without a change in V-fat. Insulin therapy nece ssitated by sulfonylurea failure does not appear to accelerate the ath erogenic process in NIDDM patients as there is no increase in visceral fat.