Abstract 18363: Type 1 and Type 2 Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that is associated with increased mortality. The severity of CAN may be related to type and duration of DM. Methods: 16 subjects with type 1 DM (age 32.9±10.1 years), 18 subjects with type 2 DM (55.4±8.0 years) and 30 controls (44.0±11.6 years) underwent exercise-based assessment of CAN. Two 16-minute submaximal bicycle tests were performed followed by 45 minutes of recovery. Continuous 12-lead electrocardiography was performed. On the 2nd test, atropine (0.04 mg/kg) was administered at peak exercise so that all of recovery occurred under parasympathetic blockade. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were measured at rest, during exercise, and during recovery. For each subject and at each time point in recovery, parasympathetic effect on the RR interval was defined as the difference of the RR interval at baseline without atropine and the RR interval after parasympathetic blockade with atropine. Results: Th...