• Users Online: 27674
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
ARTICLES
Year : 1982  |  Volume : 30  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 367-369

Tear glucose in uncontrolled and chemical diabetics


Deptt. of Ophthalmology, Anatomy and Biochemistry, J.L.N. Medical College, Ajmer, India

Correspondence Address:
G K Sharma
Department of Ophthalmology, J.L.N. Medica College, Ajmer
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


PMID: 7166421

Rights and PermissionsRights and Permissions

How to cite this article:
Gaur M S, Sharma G K, Kabra S G, Sharma P K, Nepalia L K. Tear glucose in uncontrolled and chemical diabetics. Indian J Ophthalmol 1982;30:367-9

How to cite this URL:
Gaur M S, Sharma G K, Kabra S G, Sharma P K, Nepalia L K. Tear glucose in uncontrolled and chemical diabetics. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1982 [cited 2024 Mar 29];30:367-9. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1982/30/4/367/29474

Table 1

Click here to view
Table 1

Click here to view
The glucose in a diffusible but nonionized constituent of Lacrimal fluid. Since the pione­ering work of Ridley several workers have attempted to quantitatively correlate the level of tear glucose with that of blood in diabetic states. However, these studies have been carried out on limited number of samples/ patients. Moreover, different researchers have employed different analytical procedures. This has resulted in confusing and even contradic­tory data as highlighted by Lewis and Stephens and Gasset, et al[2],[3]. The present study is an attempt to comprehensively evaluate the same.


  Materials and methods Top


The Subject matter of study comprised of fifty uncontrolled diabetics (40 of maturity onset and 10 of juvenile on) and twenty five cases of chemical diabetes from consecu­tive patients attending the clinic of the hospital Fifty age and sex matched non diabetic indoor patients of eye wards were studied as control.

Tear samples were collected by a capillary tube after inhalation of spirit of ammonia. Simultaneous blood and tear samples were collected while fasting, and three samples after

ingestion of 100 g of glucose at hr, ½ hr and 2 hr, intervals.


  Observations Top


Statistical analysis of the results of blood and tear glucose levels in the three groups studied is presented in [Table - 1].


  Discussion Top


The present study undertaken in different groups of diabetic and normal subjects have revealed that the level of glucose in Lacrimal fluid provides a faithful reflection of the level of blood glucose. A statistically significant positive correlation exists between the level of blood and tear glucose in normal subjects (p<0.01) in uncontrolled diabetes (p<0.001) and in chemical diabetes (p<0.001). The rise and fall in the level of tear glucose under the effect of 100g glucose lead is in strict confor­mity with the temporal changes in blood glucose level characteristic of the group. Thus an estimation of tear glucose may be employed as an equally acceptable and efficacious method for detecting and monitor­ing diabetes mellitus.

In chemical diabetes the fasting tear glucose value is 13.3 + 2.8 mg and the fasting blood glucose level is

71 ± 2.1 mg%. The fasting blood glucose level in this group is same as that of control, but the tear glucose is significantly (p<0.05) raised. According to Heward and Daubs this state of hyperglycodacryosis with normogly­caemia is probably the result of facilitated diffusion of glucose from blood to tissue fluids in presence of the inherent metabolic defects in chemical diabetics.

In the light of the present work the -estimation of tear glucose level assumes significance in the detection of diabetes, particularly so the chemical diabetes where the fasting tear glucose estimation reveals the diagnosis while the fasting blood glucose fails to do so.


  Summary Top


The levels of blood and tear glucose, fast­ing and under glucose load, have been quantitatively estimated in 50 uncontrolled diabetics and 25 chemical diabetics and compared with 50 control subjects. The tear glucose levels bear statistically significant correlation with blood glucose levels in all the groups studied. It is concluded that tear glucose estimation is a simple and more efficacious method for detection of diabetes, particularly chemical diabetes.[4]

 
  References Top

1.
Ridley, F., 1930, Brit. J. Exp. Pathol., 11 :217.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Lewls, J.C. and Stephens, P.J., 1958, Brit. J. Opthalmol. 42 : 754  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Gasset, et at., 1968, Amer. J. Ophthalmol. 65: 414   Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Heward, J.D. (Jr.) and Daubs, J.G., 1975. J. Amer. Optom. Ass: 4611, 59.  Back to cited text no. 4
    



 
 
    Tables

  [Table - 1]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Materials and me...
Observations
Discussion
Summary
References
Article Tables

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2039    
    Printed99    
    Emailed1    
    PDF Downloaded0    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal