Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the exocrine pancreatic function in 74 diabetics. For this purpose, BT-PABA (Pancreatic Function Diagnostant Test: PFD Test) soft tablets were given to the diabetic patients. The exocrine pancreatic function was assessed with special reference to the duration of diabetes. differences in therapy, and stage of diabetic retinopathy.
1) The recovery of PABA in 24 normal subjects was 74.9±9.7%, while that in diabetics was significantly lower than this value (p<0.001).
2) The recovery of PABA in patients who had suffered from diabetes for over 5 years was 42.5±20.3%, which was significantly lower than the values for other subgroups.
3) The recovery of PABA was 53.5±43.6% in the group with fasting glucose levels of 80-140mg/dl, and 50.10±21, 5% in the group with fasting glucose levels of more than 140 mg/dl. This difference was not statistically significant.
4) The recovery of PABA was 58.5±21.7% in diabetics who were on dietary therapy alone, 55.1±29.6% in those receiving oral hypoglycemic agents, and 46.9±21.0% in those on insulin therapy The value in the insulin therapy group wassignificantly lower than those in the other two groups.
5) The exocrine pancreatic function in the diabetics as determined by the PFD test tended to decrease as the stage of diabetic retinopathy progressed.
In conclusion, it can be said that the PFD test is useful for detecting the exocrine pancreatic dysfunctions associated with diabetes mellitus.
