Autopsy finds Reitan died of hypoglycemia

Arizona Summer Wildcat Julie Reitan

Reitan, 21, was diabetic. Autopsy results indicate Reitan's blood sugar level was low, presumably because of insulin she took earlier that evening, said Bruce Parks, Pima County chief medical examiner.

It cannot be determined if Reitan took the insulin just before she went to sleep, but the pouch she used to store her insulin was on a table in her residence, away from its normal storage place, Parks said.

Individuals who experience severe hypoglycemia typically lapse into a coma and seizures may develop, he said.

Bite marks were found on Reitan's tongue, which suggest a seizure may have occurred, he said.

Carol Torres, regional director of the American Diabetes Association, said there could have been warning signs that Reitan's blood sugar level was falling, but because she was asleep, these signs would have gone undetected.

These signs could have included perspiration and trembling.

Diabetes is a "fine line" between one's blood sugar level falling too low and rising too high, Torres said.

Reitan was found dead in her northside residence by a roommate the morning of June 27.

More than 1,200 people gathered on the night of July 1 at McKale Center to mourn her death.

At the memorial Amy Chellevold, an assistant coach with the team, said Reitan battled diabetes everyday, but never used it as an excuse to slack off on the field. Sometimes at practice, she said she could visibly see Reitan struggling, but Reitan would ju st drink some gatorade and finish her wind sprints or whatever activity was being exepected of the rest of the team.

Reitan, who batted .318 last season, used timely slaphitting to help the national champion Wildcats to a 61-5 record and best-ever Pac 10 conference mark of 26-1.