[Diabetes mellitus in autonomic neuropathy of the heart]

In 48 patients suffering from diabetes I and diabetes II cardiovascular reflexes were tested in order to detect autonomic nervous system lesions of the heart. We measured the beat to beat variation in heart rate during deep breathing and the response of heart rate to change in posture (30:15 ratio). These tests were performed to prove the parasympathic function. To detect sympathic lesions the blood pressure changes were observed as response to change in posture (Schellong-Test). The patients under investigation showed a high prevalence of autonomic dysfunction depending on duration of diabetes and manifestations of other diabetic lesions. More often and earlier destructions of the parasympathic system were observed. Autonomic nervous lesions were correlated to the peripheral neuropathy. The diabetic polyneuropathy is a common complication of long term diabetes mellitus.