Effects of intensified insulin therapy on fat metabolism in type 1 diabetes mellitus

The effect on fat metabolism of an intensified insulin treatment regimen was tested in 23 type I diabetics and compared with that of conventional insulin treatment. Definite improvement in blood glucose levels was found after a one-year intensified treatment schedule (HbA1 of 8.1% under intensified treatment, compared with 10.6% under conventional treatment). The intensified treatment schedule also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma triglycerides from an average of 114 mg/dl to 94 mg/dl (p less than 0.05), at the same time the plasma HDL-cholesterol levels increased. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol remained unchanged. Thus intensified insulin treatment was shown to improve glucose metabolism, lower HDL-cholesterol and in this way improve the risk profile for macroangiopathy.