Sudden death of a diabetic patient during Holter monitoring.

The sudden death of a diabetic patient (NIDDM) during Holter monitoring is described. The patient was a 64-yr-old male with an 11-yr history of diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, autonomic nervous dysfunction, and old myocardial infarction. In spite of all these complications, he remained asymptomatic and eventually resumed his normal activities, including a daily 1-h walk, until his sudden death. The cause of death was considered to be cardiac disease, but was not confirmed by autopsy. A detailed analysis of his Holter monitoring is given.