Diabetes. 



hi 



62 (1126) 



The control of acidosis and its relation to impaired sugar meta- 

 bolism in human diabetes. 



By Frank P. Underhill. 



[From the Sheffield Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, Yale 

 University, New Haven.} 



Acidosis exerts a distinct influence upon carbohydrate meta- 

 bolism. This assertion is supported by the observation of 

 Elias, 1 who demonstrated that the introduction of acid into dogs 

 and rabbits leads to hyperglycemia and glycosuria. Moreover, 

 the same author 2 has concluded that the so-called "hunger dia- 

 betes" of young dogs 3 is in part, at least, a condition due to acidosis, 

 as determined by the carbon dioxide content of the blood and an- 

 alysis of the alveolar air. Observations upon human diabetes 

 teach that acidosis obtains in this condition also. 



A state of alkalosis is likewise potent in exerting an action upon 

 carbohydrate metabolism but this influence is contrary to that of 

 acidosis. Pavy and Godden 4 showed that the glycosuria provoked 

 by ether and chloroform disappears after the intravenous injection 

 of sodium carbonate. Given by mouth or intravenously sodium 

 carbonate will abolish the hyperglycemia of "hunger diabetes" 

 and glycosuria will either entirely disappear or be greatly dimin- 

 ished, according to Elias. 5 After removal of the pancreas sodium 

 carbonate introduced into the blood stream causes diminution in 

 the excretion of sugar. 6 Later work by Murlin (reported at the 

 December meeting of the Society for Biological Chemists) has 

 shown that under the influence of sodium carbonate the respira- 

 tory quotient is increased in depancreatized dogs. At the Decem- 

 ber meeting of the Society of Biological Chemists Underhill re- 

 ported that in the hyperglycemia produced by epinephrine the 



1 Biochem. Zeit., 1913, 48, p. 120. 



2 Elias, Biochem. Zeit., 1913, 52, p. 331. 



3 Hofmeister, Arch. f. Exper. Pathol, u. Pharm., 1890, 26, p. 355. 

 * J. Physiol., 1911-12, 43, Proc, p. vii. 



1 Biochem. Zeit., 1913, 52, p. 331. 



8 Murlin and Kramer, J. Biol. Chem., 1913. 15, p. 365. 



