Examination by Doppler echocardiography in diabetics frequently reveals an impaired diastolic function of the left ventricle. However, it is not known this disorder is influenced by compensation of diabetes. The author examined therefore 10 type 1 diabetics, 20 type 2 diabetics without retinopathy and 10 type 2 diabetics with diabetic retinopathy. He eliminated patients with hypertension, valvular defects and manifest IHD. The groups were compared with controls of comparable age, sex and habit. Echocardiographic examinations were made before, one month after and two months after the onset of intensive insulin therapy. Compensation of diabetes was evaluated from the level of glycated proteins. In diabetics of type 1 and 2 the authors recorded deterioration of diastolic filling of the left ventricle. Short-term compensation led to improvement only in type 2 diabetics with diabetic retinopathy. The results support effects of close compensation of diabetes, as decompensation in patients without late complications leads to deterioration of diastolic filling of the left ventricle, which at first after compensation is reversible.

Keywords: Adult; Diabetes Mellitus /blood/; Diabetic Retinopathy /blood/; Diastole; Echocardiography, Doppler; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A /analysis/; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ventricular Function, Left