Glucose is not detectable in airways secretions of normoglycaemic volunteers, but is present at 1–9 mmol·l-1 in airways secretions from people with hyperglycaemia. These observations suggest the existence of a blood glucose threshold at which glucose appears in airways secretions, similar to that seen in renal and salivary epithelia. In the present study we determined the blood glucose threshold at which glucose appears in nasal secretions. Blood glucose concentrations were raised in healthy human volunteers by 20% dextrose intravenous infusion or 75 g oral glucose load. Nasal glucose concentrations were measured using modified glucose oxidase sticks as blood glucose concentrations were raised. Glucose appeared rapidly in nasal secretions once blood glucose was clamped at approx. 12 mmol·l-1 (n=6). On removal of the clamp, nasal glucose fell to baseline levels in parallel with blood glucose concentrations. An airway glucose threshold of 6.7–9.7 mmol·l-1 was identified (n=12). In six subjects with normal glucose tolerance, blood glucose concentrations rose above the airways threshold and nasal glucose became detectable following an oral glucose load. The presence of an airway glucose threshold suggests that active glucose transport by airway epithelial cells normally maintains low glucose concentrations in airways secretions. Blood glucose exceeds the airway threshold after a glucose load even in people with normal glucose tolerance, so it is likely that people with diabetes or hyperglycaemia spend a significant proportion of each day with glucose in their airways secretions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
May 2004
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Research Article|
May 01 2004
Effect of hyperglycaemia on glucose concentration of human nasal secretions
David M. WOOD;
David M. WOOD
*Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, St George's Hospital, Medical School, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Amanda L. BRENNAN;
Amanda L. BRENNAN
†Physiological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Barbara J. PHILIPS;
Barbara J. PHILIPS
‡Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Emma H. BAKER
†Physiological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 0RE, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Emma Baker (e-mail [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 10 2003
Revision Received:
December 01 2003
Accepted:
December 17 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
December 17 2003
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2004 The Biochemical Society
2004
Clin Sci (Lond) (2004) 106 (5): 527–533.
Article history
Received:
October 10 2003
Revision Received:
December 01 2003
Accepted:
December 17 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
December 17 2003
Citation
David M. WOOD, Amanda L. BRENNAN, Barbara J. PHILIPS, Emma H. BAKER; Effect of hyperglycaemia on glucose concentration of human nasal secretions. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 2004; 106 (5): 527–533. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20030333
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |