The effects of ethanol on glucose tolerance were studied in 110 subjects consisting of 96 males and 14 females. All cases were subjected to the oral glucose tolerance test (CGTT) and to the combined administration of ethanol and glucose (AGTT). Results obtained were summarized as follows:
1) Ethanol itself had no effect on the levels of blood sugar and serum insulin (IRI).
2) Both the blood sugar and IRI responses to glucose ingestion were significantly enhanced by the simultaneous administration of ethanol in twenty-five subjects with normal GTT patterns.
3) The rise in blood sugar after glucose ingestion was significantly reduced by the simultaneous administration of ethanol, while the IRI response remained unchanged, in seventeen cases of mild diabetes.
4) Ethanol had no effect on the blood sugar and IRI responses to glucose ingestion in eight cases of moderate diabetes and six cases of sulfonylurea.
5) Among 49 cases with border-line patterns in GTT, 16 cases showed aggravated glucose tolerance after ethanol administration, 18 cases unchanged, and 15 cases improved. There were no differences among those three subgroups in regard to the IRI response, body weight, liver function and in drinking history.
6) Ethanol had no effect on the levels of serum HGH, plasma cortisol, and of lipids in OG TT at least within three hours following ethanol administration.