Diabetic Insulin Antagonism

A capacity of freshly-drawn, normal serum to antagonize the action of insulin in the epididymal fat pad system has been found to be increased in the serum of untreated diabetic patients. A comparable increase has also been found in the serum of very obese subjects who are not apparently diabetic.

The current status of insulin antagonism in diabetes has been briefly reviewed. Although a search for the diabetogenic insulin antagonist has been under way for several decades now, failure thus far to convincingly demonstrate its presence appears to have carried little conviction of its absence. To the several candidates currently in nomination, another has been added.