Abraira and Lawrence describe the original discovery as being that "when glucose loads are given in succession, orally or intravenously, significant and progressive improvement in glucose tolerance will occur in normal and
nonketotic diabetic subjects. This facilitated disposal of a glucose load is known as the Staub-Traugott phenomenon." Various mechanisms were hypothesized involving the
liver and
insulin. It was determined in 2009 that "enhanced potentiation of
insulin response and increased suppression of
hepatic glucose production [glycogenolysis and
gluconeogenesis] are the main mechanisms underlying the Staub-Traugott effect", meaning that the liver slows its release of glucose into the bloodstream and the existing insulin becomes better at clearing glucose from the bloodstream with each dose of glucose administered. == Exceptions and limitations ==