Abstract
We experienced three diabetic patients, whose ST-T abnormalities disappeared in a few months with blood-sugar control.
The first patient was a 73-year-old female with a 2-year history of diabetes. She was admitted on July 16, 1981, for poor control of blood glucose. The blood glucose and HbA1 levels were 195 mg/dl and 10.3%, respectively, on admission. She had been receving glibenclamide drugs. ECG showed ST segment depression in I, II, aVL, V3-6 and T wave inversion in V1-3 on admission, but these abnor malities disappeared with diabetic therapy and the ST-T segment returned to normal by August 21, 1981.
The second patient was a 44-year-old male with a 1-year history of diabetes. He was admitted on April 19, 1981. The blood glucose and HbA1 levels were 214mg/dl and 10.9%, respectively on admission. He had been receiving insulin therapy. ECG showed ST segment depression in II, III, aVF, V6 on admission, but with diabetic therapy the abnormalities disappeared by June 20, 1981.
The third patient was a 56-year-old female with thirst starting 10 days earlier. She was admitted on May 5, 1981. The blood glucose and HbA1 levels were 302mg/dl and 12.2% respectively, on admission. She had been receiving insulin therapy. ECG showed ST segment depression in I, II, III, aVL, V4-6 and T wave inversion in II, III, aVF, V1-6 on admission, but with diabetic therapy the abnormalities disappeared by May 16, 1981.
This report suggests that ECG findings in diabetics are influenced by the control of blood sugar and it is necessary to evaluate ST-T changes in diabetic patients cautiously.
