Abstract

The responses to exercise of hormones (free insulin, noradrenaline, adrenali- ne, renin, glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol, and pancreativ polypeptide (PP)) and metabolites (glucose, lactate, free fatty acids, glycerol and beta- hydroxybutyrate) were measured during exercise. Seven normal subjects, eight insulin-dependent diabetics without neuropathy, eight with slight autonomic neuropathy, and seven with severe autonomic neuropathy were studied in the postabsorptive state. The capacity for exercise was reduced in both patient groups with autonomic neuropathy. During exercise, the concentrations of hor- mones(apart from renin) and metabolites were higher in diabetics without neu-ropathy than in normal subjects. In patients with severe neuropathy, the con- centrations of hormones (apart from cortisol) and of metabolites (apart from lactate) deviated less from those of normals. PP and renin did not increase at all in patients with severe autonomic neuropathy, suggesting that autonomicactivity normally is involved in the responses of PP and renin to exercise. In conclusion, the hormonal and metabolic responses to exercise depend on the previous metabolic states. Furthermore, autonomic neuropathy may significantlyattenuate the alterations in hormonal and metabolic responses induced by uncomplicated diabetes. Verf.-Referat