Uremia and insulin response.

Preliminary explorations of in vitro whole blood and leukocyte glucose and lactate metabolism in response to insulin are reported in a further effort to characterize the glucose intolerance of uremia. Data from previous studies of forearm response to insulin are reviewed. Uremic leukocytes seem to be less responsive than normal in terms of glucose uptake and utilization, and to exhibit an increase, rather than decrease, in lactate synthesis under the conditions employed. The possibility of a defect in uremic erythrocyte glucose uptake is suggested.