Secretion and hepatic removal of insulin in female obese subjects with reactive hypoglycemia.

In the present study insulin and C-peptide responses to oral glucose as well as C-peptide to insulin ratios and relations were evaluated in 10 nondiabetic obese female subjects with reactive hypoglycemia and in 10 age- and weight-matched controls. Insulin levels and incremental areas did not differ significantly in the two groups, whereas C-peptide concentrations and incremental areas were significantly higher in the obese group with reactive hypoglycemia. C-peptide to insulin molar ratio increments after glucose load as well as relations between incremental areas of the two peptides were significantly higher in obese subjects with reactive hypoglycemia than in controls. Our results suggest that B-cell response to oral glucose as well as insulin uptake by the liver in obese subjects with reactive hypoglycemia are greater than in controls.