Novel Noninvasive Breath Test Method for Screening Individuals at Risk for Diabetes
Response to Dillon et al.
- Corresponding author: Mayer B. Davidson, mayerdavidson{at}cdrewu.edu.
I wish to propose consideration of another explanation for the recent results noted with [13C] glucose in subjects with pre- and early-stage diabetes (1). These individuals had significantly higher fasting glucose concentrations than those in the control group, which would have led to lower specific activities of [13C]glucose 1–3 h into the oral glucose tolerance test. This lowered specific activity would result in decreased 13CO2 excretion by the lungs. This explanation is supported by many studies from ∼15 years ago that showed that the decreased glucose uptake during clamps in subjects with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance was secondary to decreased glucose “storage” rather than changes in glucose oxidation (2–5).
Acknowledgments
No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.
Footnotes
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- © 2009 by the American Diabetes Association.
