Noninvasive studies in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus suggest subclinical left ventricular (LV) impairment, but the studies differ with regard to methods, patient selection and results. Thus, digitized M-mode echocardiograms were recorded in 24 persons younger than 50 years with long-term (more than 12 years) type 1 diabetes but without overt heart disease and in 28 control subjects. To improve accuracy, measurements were adjusted for body surface area, LV size and the influence of heart rate, as appropriate. Diabetics had a higher heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure than control subjects. LV end-diastolic and stroke dimensions were smaller, duration of systole longer and preejection period/LV ejection time ratio higher than in control subjects, whereas fractional shortening and peak shortening rate were similar. In diabetics, diastole was shorter, peak filling rate was lower and the rapid filling period was prolonged, while percent filling during the rapid filling period and atrial contribution to filling were higher. Thus, in a well defined study population of relatively young persons with long-term type 1 diabetes, subclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction were found. The diastolic abnormalities suggest reduced LV compliance, while those in systole may be secondary to an increased afterload or decreased myocardial contractility.