Defect in glucose utilization in adipose tissue of patients with maturity-onset diabetes.

The ability of glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and glycerol phosphate to support incorporation of (14)C-palmitate into neutral lipid of adipose tissue has been studied in eight patients with maturity-onset diabetes. After two hours' incubation glucose and glucose-6-phosphate supported incorporation rates relative to glycerol phosphate of 30% and 44% respectively in diabetic tissue, whereas the corresponding rates in paired non-diabetic controls were 93% and 95%. This failure of adipose tissue to metabolize glucose in maturity-onset diabetes might be responsible for a delay in the clearance of glucose from the blood stream. Alternatively, a defect in glucose utilization might be due to tissue changes associated with maturity-onset diabetes.