Carbohydrate Metabolic Studies After Six Cycles of Combined Type Oral Contraceptive Tablets: Measurement of Plasma Insulin and Blood Glucose Levels

Thirty-two normal subjects were studied before and at the end of six cycles of treatment with a combined type of oral contraceptive. The tests involved measurement of blood glucose and plasma insulin levels during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. It was found that the mean blood glucose values were not different in the two groups. There was elevation in the plasma insulin levels in the drug treated group, but the degree of elevation could not be correlated with either familial history of diabetes mellitus or subject's weight change while taking the drug.