Diabetes, Vol 24, Issue 8 758-761, Copyright © 1975 by American Diabetes Association
Effect of physical exercise on secretion of growth hormone, glucagon, and cortisol in obese and diabetic children
C Garlaschi, B di Natale, MJ del Guercio, A Caccamo, L Gargantini and G Chiumello
The effect of muscular exertion of moderate intensity on blood sugar (BS),
plasma levels of growth hormone (GH), glucagon, and cortisol (F) has been
studied in endocrinologically normal children with short stature and
compared with children with clinical diabetes mellitus and obese children
with normal and diminished carbohydrate tolerance. In diabetic children,
physical exertion induces a rise in plasma GH levels comparable to that in
controls; in obese children with normal or with diminished glucose
tolerance, the rise is considerably smaller. Physical exertion caused no
change in F levels in the groups tested, although basal level in the obese
children was significantly higher than in the controls. Basal glucagon
levels were similar in all groups and showed no change on physical
exertion. The behavior of GH and glucagon in diabetic children was
comparable to that in the controls even where blood sugar level was high.