Normal Carbohydrate Metabolism and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Trauma

The great lability of man's glucose reserves as shown by the decreases in liver glycogen both during short starvation, decreased intake of carbohydrate or as an effect of trauma shows the importance of carbohydrate administration both in the normal man and in the treatment of trauma. Even if a relative intolerance to glucose is seen in the post‐traumatic phase, it seems reasonable to use glucose possibly together with insulin as the basic calorie supply. The most important reason for this is that during hypoxia, which can readily occur, the only useful fuel is glucose transported via the blood or stored in the tissues as glycogen.