Eugene F. Traut

HISTORY OF PATIENT WITH SPONTANEOUS REMISSION OF DIABETES

To the Editor:— A dramatic remission of the symptoms and signs of diabetes mellitus with severe ketosis was reported in a woman, aged 68 ( J. A. M. A. 152 :1531 [Aug. 15] 1953). In the previously described episode, coma persisted for five days with impressive laboratory evidence of profound ketosis. This included hyperglycemia of 1,170 mg.%. To reverse the laboratory signs of ketosis, 1,425 units of insulin were required in the first 24 hours. On the sixth day of this episode the patient awakened without any psychic or neurological symptoms or signs other than complete amnesia for the period of unconsciousness. There were no residual signs of disease. Her general condition was that of a normal woman of 65 years. Fundoscopy gave normal findings for a patient of her age. Within one week she achieved and maintained clinical aglycosuria and normoglycemia with complete absence of any symptoms of diabetes on