Vitamin E treatment in insulin-deficient diabetic rats reduces cardiac arrhythmias and mortality during severe hypoglycemia

In people with type 1 diabetes, hypoglycemia can induce cardiac arrhythmias. In rodent experiments, severe hypoglycemia can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias, especially in diabetic models. Therefore, increased oxidative stress associated with insulin-deficient diabetes increases susceptibility to severe hypoglycemia-induced fatal cardiac arrhythmias. To test this hypothesis, Sprague Dawley rats were made insulin deficient with streptozotocin and randomized into two groups: 1) control (n = 22) or 2) vitamin E treated (four doses of α-tocopherol, 400 mg/kg, n = 20). In summary, vitamin E treatment and the associated reduction of cardiac oxidative stress in diabetic rats reduced severe hypoglycemia-induced fatal cardiac arrhythmias.