Plasma Cortisol Response to Insulin and Circadian Rhythm in Diabetic Subjects

The behavior of blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids and cortisol has been studied after insulin administration in subjects with diabetes mellitus without known complications and with normal plasma cortisol circadian rhythm. The mean plasma cortisol response to hypoglycemia in the diabetic subjects was below that of the normal controls, but not statistically significant. The slower rise to normal in the diabetic group was probably due to the lesser degree of hypoglycemia.