| Abstract: | Serum glucose and serum insulin levels were measured during oral glucose tolerance tests in 100 women, 20-39 years of age, who used the OC (oral contraceptive) preparation Stediril and in a control group of 96 women of the same age group. Significantly lower fasting serum glucose levels were observed after 6 months of OC use. Significant decreases in glucose tolerance were observed among OC users who had taken OCs for longer than 6 months. The blood glucose levels were elevated significantly in this group 60 and 120 minutes after the beginning of the test. No correlation could be found between age and changes in glucose tolerance. No significant differences in fasting serum insulin levels were found in either group. A significant increase in serum insulin levels was observed among women who had used OCs longer than 6 months; this increase was apparent only 120 minutes after the beginning of the test. These changes in glucose tolerance were found to be reversible. Glucose tolerance tests should be preformed once a year on OC users, more often if an abnormality in glucose metabolism, e.g. latent diabetes, is present. |
