Electrocardiographic changes during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in healthy subjects

Hypoglycemia is associated with alterations of the EGG, a phenomenon which might be used for the development of a hypoglycemia detection device. We in vestigated the reproducibility and magnitude of ECG alterations during insu lin-induced hypoglycemia in nine healthy volunteers. The subjects were stud ied twice with an identical study protocol on two different study days. Dur ing hypoglycemia frequent ECG recordings were done with a conventional 12 l ead ECG. S.c, injection of 0.15 U/kg of regular insulin induced a fourfold increase in insulinemia on both study days as well as a mean decline in blo od glucose by 1.6 mmol/l to a minimum of 2.8 mmol/l within 60 min after inj ection. Blood potassium levels declined by a mean of 0.25 mmol/l to minimal Values of 3.69 mmol/l. On both study days, a progressive flattening of the T-waves was observed during the experiments. R-waves remained constant lea ding to an increase in RT ratios by at least 50% in comparison to baseline values. These changes were most pronounced in leads I, V3, V5 and V6. The m agnitude and reproducibility of the observed ECC changes during hypoglycemi a may allow the development of a hypoglycemia detection device.