Newport diabetic died of accidental insulin overdose

Ann Fox's death was due to misadventure, an inquest in Wellington found yesterday.

She was found looking "peaceful" on her sofa at Broomfield Road on January 8.

Her friends had become concerned after not hearing from her and let themselves in using a key.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin said: "The circumstances are Mrs Fox lived on her own.

"She had been a diabetic since she was 11. At 20 she was diagnosed with depression.

"Her kidneys started failing about 10 years ago and she was on dialysis at night.

"A post mortem found she had died of insulin toxicity. We have to consider if that was accidental or deliberate."

Mrs Fox had type 1 diabetes and had to inject insulin to control her blood sugar levels, the inquest heard.

Police Constable Rachel Barrow attended the house for West Mercia Police. She said: "I spoke to friends of Mrs Fox, who had been calling and texting her but got no response.

"They let themselves in using a key in a key safe by the front door. They found her on the sofa curled up in the foetal position and they thought she was deceased."

PC Barrow looked around the house for signs of suspicious circumstances or suicide but said she found "absolutely none".

She said: "There was nothing to indicate that she had done anything intentionally to harm herself, there was no note. She looked very peaceful, very much as though she had fallen asleep."

She added: "Her friends said she was diabetic but normally she kept it under control.

"They told me she had been away at her daughter's house over the festive period and had a very good time and was looking forward to her daughter's wedding."

Mr Ellery said: "Looking at the circumstances I discount that this was a deliberate overdose and I am left with the other conclusion that it was an accidental overdose.

"I record a verdict of misadventure because it was an unintended consequence of what Mrs Fox did when she injected the insulin."