When blood sugar was raised without insulin, the body’s stress system didn’t react — meaning high sugar by itself didn’t trigger the same nerve response as insulin did.
Scientific Claim
In nonobese young men, hyperglycemia induced by glucose infusion to raise blood glucose 125 mg/dl above basal for 2 hours is not associated with significant changes in plasma norepinephrine levels, suggesting that elevated glucose alone does not stimulate sympathetic nervous system activity under these conditions.
Original Statement
“Plasma NE did not change during the hyperglycemic glucose clamp nor during control tests, and pulse pressure in the hyperglycemic studies (P < 0.005) was the only cardiovascular measurement increased by these two infusion protocols.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The abstract correctly reports no change in plasma NE during hyperglycemia, and the language 'did not change' is appropriately neutral. No causal verb is used.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effect of Insulin and Glucose Infusions on Sympathetic Nervous System Activity in Normal Man
The study found that raising blood sugar alone didn’t make the body’s stress system more active, but giving insulin did—so it’s insulin, not sugar, that’s triggering the response.