Insulin resistance in haemochromatosis.

ROOT (1929) gave theoretical reasons for regarding insulin resistance as present when a patient requires more than 200 units of insulin daily. This figure was derived from the insulin requirements of depancreatised animals but has been accepted as a satisfa:tory and practical although clearly arbitrary standard (Martin, Martin, Lyster and Strouse, 1941; Davidson and Eddleman, 1950; Oakley, Field, Sowton, Rigby and Cunliffe, 1959). Defined in this way, insulin resistance has been described rarely in haemochromatosis. Hitherto only 11 cases have been recorded (Root, 1929; Allan and Constam, 1929; Engel, 1934; Eskind, Franklin and Lowell, 1953; Stauffer, Butt and Dockerty 1954; Colwell and Weiger, 1956; Uhry, Marcel and Cohen, 1957; Justin-Besancon, Pequignot, DMuil, Etienne, Magdelaine and Jullien, 1960; Michon, Larcan, Huriet and Vert, 1961; Heath, 1965). The doses of insulin required are shown in Table 1. This report gives details of two additional cases.