Non-diabetic Glycosuria with Comments Concerning the Significance of Insulin-Induced Ketonuria: A Case Report

A 24-YEAR-OLD soldier had completed three years of high school; his civil occupation was that of a plumber. The patient's past history was irrelevant and the family history disclosed no evidence of any familial diatheses, including diabetes mellitus. The patient first came under observation July 6, 1942 at another hospital because of an upper respiratory infection. The admission urine specimen contained sugar and subsequent urinalyses confirmed this finding. Following the discovery of glycosuria the patient, on direct questioning, admitted that polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia had been present for an unknown period of time. The acute nasopharyngitis subsided promptly. The patient was placed on a restricted carbohydrate diet divided into four meals and received regular insulin in 5-unit doses before each meal. Subsequent examinations of the urine showed fewer specimens positive for sugar. After a month of hospitalization, the patient was returned to his former duties. He was instructed to follow an unmeasured diet with carbohydrates curtailed and divided into three meals.