Use of Growth Hormone as a Diabetic Stimulus in Man

The diabetogenic potency of 10 mg. of human growth hormone and of 100 mg. of cortisone acetate was studied in five normal volunteers. Measurements of glucose, free fatty acids, immunoreactive insulin and immunoreactive growth hormone following a carbohydrate load revealed that twelve hours after a single intramuscular dose of growth hormone impairment of glucose tolerance and elevation in both serum insulin and free fatty acids were evident. Cortisone alone resulted in minimal changes in these indices, and the combination of cortisone and growth hormone was similar in effect to growth hormone alone. Concentrations of growth hormone in serum were still elevated twelve to fifteen hours after the intramuscular administration of a single 10 mg. dose.