Summary
Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 12 young men in the Antarctic. Tests were done in the morning and afternoon at three monthly intervals (March, June, September, December). The characteristic diurnal variation in glucose tolerance persisted throughout the year, but was greater in the warmer months (March and December). There were significant seasonal differences in glucose tolerance; blood glucose values were lowest, both morning and afternoon, in December (midsummer). In one pair of tests performed during a reversal of normal sleep/activity pattern, the direction of the normal diurnal variation of glucose tolerance was also reversed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ben-Dyke, R.: Diurnal variation of oral glucose tolerance in volunteers and laboratory animals. Diabetologia 7, 156–159 (1971)
Blotner, H.: Effect of prolonged physical inactivity on tolerance of sugar. Arch. Int. Med. 75, 39–45 (1945)
Bowen, A. J., Reeves, R. L.: Diurnal variation in glucose tolerance. Arch. Int. Med. 119, 261–264 (1967)
Carroll, K. F., Nestel, P. J.: Diurnal variation in glucose tolerance and in insulin secretion in man. Diabetes 22, 333–348 (1973)
Chrenko, F. A., Pugh, L. G. C. E.: The contribution of solar radiation to the thermal environment of man in Antarctica. Proc. Roy. Soc. 155, 243–265 (1961)
Culhane, K.: The use of rabbits in insulin assay. Quart. J. Pharm. 1, 515–533 (1928)
Fahlén, M., Odén, A., Björntorp, P., Tibblin, P.: Seasonal influence on insulin secretion in man. Clin. Sci. 41, 453–458 (1971)
Freinkel, N., Mager, M., Vinnick, L.: Cyclicity on the interrelationships between plasma insulin and glucose during starvation in normal young men. J. Lab. clin. Med. 71, 171–178 (1968)
Goldsmith, R., Lewis, H. E.: Polar expeditions as human laboratories. J. occup. Med. 2, 118–122 (1960)
Jarrett, R. J.: Problems of the glucose tolerance test. Brit. J. Hosp. Med. 10, 578–580 (1973)
Jarrett, R. J., Baker, I. A., Keen, H., Oakley, N. W.: Diurnal variation in glucose tolerance: Blood sugar and plasma insulin levels morning, afternoon and evening. Brit. med. J. 1972 I, 199–201
Jarrett, R. J., Keen, H.: Diurnal variation of oral glucose tolerance: a possible pointer to the evolution of diabetes mellitus. Brit. med. J. 1969 II, 341–344
Jarrett, R. J., Keen, H.: Further observations on the diurnal variation in glucose tolerance. Brit. med. J. 1970 IV, 334–337
Klimt, C. R. et al.: Standardisation of the oral glucose tolerance test. Diabetes 18, 299–310 (1969)
Lewis, H. E., Masterton, J. P.: Sleep and wakefulness in the Arctic. Lancet 1957 I, 1262–1266
Lipman, R. L., Raskin, P., Love, T., Triebwasser, J., Lecocq, F. R., Schnure, J. J.: Glucose tolerance during decreased physical activity in man. Diabetes 21, 101–107 (1972)
Malherbe, C., de Gasparo, M., de Hertogh, R., Hoet, J. J.: Circadian variations of blood sugar and plasma insulin levels in man. Diabetologia 5, 397–404 (1969)
McCance, R. A., Widdowson, E. M.: The composition of foods. Medical Research Council. London: H.M.S.O. 1969
Norman, J. N.: Cold exposure and patterns of activity at a polar station. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 6, 1–13 (1965)
Oakley, N. W., Monier, D., Wynn, V.: Diurnal variation in oral glucose tolerance: insulin and growth hormone changes with special reference to women taking oral contraceptives. Diabetologia 9, 235–238 (1973)
Ohkubo, Y.: Basal metabolism and other physiological changes in wintering members of Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition 1968–1969. Bull. Tokyo med. dent. Univ. 19, 245–269 (1972)
Passmore, R., Durnin, J. V. G. A.: Human energy expenditure. Physiol. Rev. 35, 801–840 (1955)
Roberts, H. J.: Afternoon glucose tolerance testing: a key to the pathogenesis, early diagnosis and prognosis of diabetic hyperinsulinism. J. Amer. Geriat. Soc. 12, 423–472 (1964)
Whichelow, M. J., Sturge, R. A., Keen, H., Jarrett, R. J., Stimmler, L., Grainger, S. L.: Diurnal variation in response to intravenous glucose. Brit. med. J. 1974 I, 488–491
Young, D. A. B.: Hypothalamic (photoperiodic) control of a seasonal antagonism to insulin in the rat heart. J. Physiol. 178, 530–543 (1965)
Zimmet, P. Z., Wall, J. R., Rome, R., Stimmler, L., Jarrett, R. J.: Diurnal variation in glucose tolerance: associated changes in plasma insulin, growth hormone, and non-esterified fatty acids. Brit. med. J. 1974 I, 485–488
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Campbell, I.T., Jarrett, R.J. & Keen, H. Diurnal and seasonal variation in oral glucose tolerance: Studies in the antarctic. Diabetologia 11, 139–145 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429838
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429838