Studies in Whole Body Potassium and Whole Body Nitrogen in Newly Diagnosed Diabetics

Serial measurements of whole body potassium and whole body nitrogenwere carried out in 18 newly diagnosed diabetics. Initial measurementswere made before treatment of diabetes was commenced, and furthermeasurements were carried out following the start of treatment.Six patients required insulin and the remainder were treatedeither with diet alone (four cases) or with diet and oral hypoglycaemicagents. Significant increases in whole body potassium and wholebody nitrogen were noted following control of diabetes. Thesechanges were most marked in the patients treated with insulin.The techniques used for measurement of body potassium and nitrogenoffer considerable advantages over conventional metabolic balancestudies and the results indicate that the losses of potassiumand nitrogen during periods of poor diabetic control are muchgreater than has been realized.