Effect of meal on retinal blood flow in IDDM patients.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of postprandial hyperglycemia on retinal blood flow was examined in 11 adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 9 nondiabetic subjects.


METHODS
Retinal blood flow was measured with bidirectional laser Doppler velocimetry before and 60 and 120 min after a 50-g carbohydrate breakfast. Diabetic subjects were studied twice, being randomized to take their usual insulin (isoglycemic study) or to omit their morning short-acting insulin (hyperglycemic study). Nondiabetic subjects were studied once and received no insulin.


RESULTS
Plasma glucose rose significantly (from 11.5 +/- 5.2 to 22.1 +/- 5.5 mM, P less than 0.001) during the hyperglycemic study but not during the isoglycemic or nondiabetic studies. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or retinal blood flow in any of the groups studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term hyperglycemia does not increase retinal blood flow.
Sullivan
P M
PM
Diabetic Retinopathy Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Parfitt
V J
VJ
Jagoe
R
R
Newsom
R
R
Kohner
E M
EM
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates