Early latent diabetes—New concept

Data were presented on FFA levels in 4 groups of relatives of diabetics with and without cortisone. Latent diabetes is characterized by cortisone-induced elevation of plasma FFA levels as well as glucose. Cortisone causes no significant change in plasma FFA levels in the nondiabetic or overtly diabetic human subject. A new category in the natural history of diabetes mellitus is described. Early latent diabetes is characterized by minimal abnormality of glucose tolerance with marked elevation of the FFA levels on giving cortisone. Thirty-two per cent of subjects with early latent diabetes became latent and 2 subjects became overtly diabetic after 1 year.