Abstract
Objectives. 1) Report the feasibility of completing the 180-minute Frequently Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (FSIVGTT) in healthy weight, overweight and obese pre-pubertal children and, 2) describe the finalized FSIVGTT protocol after addendums were implemented to decrease the frequency of mild adverse events and improve test completion rates. Methods. Insulin sensitivity was determined by FSIVGTT. Results. FSIVGTT was attempted in a total of 22 study participants. Insulin sensitivity was successfully assessed in 15 study participants (8 males, 7 females, 10 Caucasian, 4 African American, 1 Pacific Islander, age range 7–9 years). Mean insulin sensitivity was 15.1±9.8 (mµ/l)−1 min−1 range 4.4–43.2 (mµ/l)−1 min−1. However, seven study participants experienced mild adverse events of hypoglycemia. Several addendums were made to the FSIVGTT protocol to ensure study participants' comfort and safety, and to decrease the frequency of mild adverse events and increase test completion rates. Conclusions. Addendums made to FSIVGTT protocol allowed successful completion of FSIVGTT in 15 (68%) of the 22 children. These results demonstrate that FSIVGTT is challenging, yet feasible in healthy lean and obese pre-pubertal children.