THE death of a diabetic woman who was suffering from depression remains a mystery.

An inquest heard yesterday that Carol Topham, 40, of Greta Street, Skelton, east Cleveland, was found dead in her home by her estranged husband, Colin, in May last year.

Police searched the house and found a large amount of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as several notes, one dated the day before her death, telling of her unhappiness.

But Teesside Coroner's Court heard that a post-mortem examination did not reveal a conclusive cause of death.

Mr Topham, 50, of Whitby North Yorkshire, told the court his wife had been depressed following a police investigation into an alleged incident some years ago.

He said she was sometimes "erratic" in the way she took insulin to control her diabetes.

Pathologist Dr Campbell Ritchie said on the balance of probabilities, Mrs Topham died from low blood sugar, caused by an insulin overdose.

Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded an open verdict, saying it could not be certain that she intended to take her life.