Glucose tolerance and insulin response in atherosclerosis.

Oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out on 51 men with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, none of whom were known diabetics or had suffered recent myocardial infarction. The plasma insulin and blood sugar responses were compared with 47 age and sex-matched controls. There was no significant difference in obesity between the two groups. The patient group showed an increased plasma insulin response with a delay in return to fasting levels, and the blood sugar response was similar. These results suggest that hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia are often associated with atherosclerosis, and may have a role in its aetiology.