Relationship between the plasma glucose level and glucose uptake in the conscious dog.

In the absence of a change in the pancreatic hormonal milieu, elevations in the normal fasting plasma glucose level have little effect on glucose clearance. In view of these data, and the previously established responsiveness of M to hormones, glucose clearance can be considered to represent a useful index of hormone action on glucose uptake in vivo. Care should be taken, however, when interpreting clearance data obtained under hypoglycemic conditions, since there is a possibility that clearance may spontaneously increase at very low plasma glucose levels.