Insulin sensitivity and vascular disease in maturity-onset diabetics.

In 27 maturity-onset diabetics of more than 10 years' duration there was a significant tendency for both atherosclerosis and microangiopathy to be associated with a reduction in the acute hypoglycaemic effect of intravenous beef insulin. This finding is identical to that in a group of 51 insulin-dependent diabetics previously reported.It is suggested that insulin insensitivity probably precedes the appearance of vascular disease in diabetes and may be implicated in its production.