Diabetes Mellitus Following Hypophysectomy in Previously Normoglycaemic Patients with Acromegaly

Insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus secondary to acromegaly generally improve following treatment of the underlying disease. In rare cases, in spite of normoglycaemia in the presence of active acromegaly, patients develop diabetes mellitus following hypophysectomy, to such an extent that insulin is required to control their diabetes. This article introduces the cases of 5 patients who underwent hypophysectomy between 1985 and 1996 at the Shariati and Imam Khomeiny hospitals in Tehran. In view of the above phenomenon, however, the regular measurement of blood glucose levels in post-hypophysectomy patients, even if normoglycaemic prior to surgery, seems to be a necessary step.