In patients with thyroid diseases, the oral glucose, intravenous glucose, epinephrine, and insulin tolerance test were performed.
Diminished glucose tolerance was observed in 3 of 8 patients with thyrotoxicosis, and diminished glycemic response to epinephrine in 3 of 5 patients with the same disease. The sesult became normal after euthyroidism was established by the treatment with mercatoimidazole or radioactive iodine (I131).
Diminished oral glucose tolerance was observed in 6 of 11 patients with subacute thyroiditis diminished glycemic response to epinephrine in 3 of 8 such patients, and abnormal response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in 12 of 16 such patients. As the gland softned and finally restored the normal size, the test gradually tended to show the normal response.