Abstract: The study was performed in 40 untreated GD patients and in 11 euthyro id subjects. After the normal oral glucose tolerance test, the glucose、 IRI、 C -P and TI were measured in order to investigate the relationship among insulin, true insulin and glucose tolerance in Graves' disease. It was found that the serum glucose, IRI and C-P of the patients' were significantly higher than thos e of the euthyroid controls except for the data at 0 min. The true insulin le vel of the patients' were higher than that of the controls', but only at 60 and 120 min with significant difference. The sigma IRI/sigma BG increased signif icantly in GD group. FT₃ was correlated negatively with IRI(30, 60, 120 min), C-P(60 min), TI(60 min), and FT₄ was not correlated with the data at the se points. These results indicate that Graves' disease could affect the metabol ism of glucose and cause a series of abnormality, such as hyperglycaemia and hy perinsulinism, which suggests that insulin-resistance is underlying in this c ondition.

Key words: Graves' disease, insulin, true insulin, oral glucose tolerance test