Sugar from lactic acid in human diabetes

The evidence presented by experimental diabetes seems to indicate that in the transformation of amino-acids into glucose lactic acid is an intermediary step. It has also been suggested that in the combustion of glucose lactic acid may arise from the cleavage of the sugar molecule. On account of this significant place held by lactic acid it appears of interest to investigate the relation it may hold to sugar production in human diabetes. Only cases of diabetes of considerable severity are suitable for the experiment, since in the milder degrees of the human disorder relatively large amounts of carbohydrate may be burned or stored and the sugar output is apt to fluctuate. In a patient it was ascertained that with a uniform diet for three days a fairly constant glucose excretion could be depended upon and lactic acid as the sodium salt was given on the second day of the experimental period with the result that there was a rise in sugar excretion shown by the following abstract from the protocol.