Figure 8.
Typical plasma glucose, ACTH, and cortisol response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in a healthy subject and a patient with secondary adrenal insufficiency (hypopituitarism). Notice there is a small increase in ACTH and cortisol in this patient with secondary adrenal insufficiency indicating there are still a few remaining functioning pituitary corticotrophs. To convert glucose to mmol/L, multiply mg/100 ml by 0.056; to convert ACTH to pmol/L, multiply pg/mL by 0.2202. To convert cortisol to nmol/L, multiply μg/dL by 27.59.