Evidence Hub

The Significance of Precise Diabetes Diagnosis: A Case of Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Induced by the Introduction of Empagliflozin with Simultaneous Reduction of Insulin Dosage

Wiktoria Bińczyk, Olgierd Dróżdż, Bartosz Siudek, Agnieszka Głuszczyk, Jakub Plizga, F. Grajnert

European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine, 2024

3 citations

Abstract

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) is a rare but severe metabolic complication of diabetes mellitus characterised by elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis despite normal or mildly elevated blood glucose levels. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as effective antidiabetic medications, yet their use is associated with an increased risk of euDKA, especially when coupled with insulin dose reduction. We present the case of a 50-year-old male with a 20-year history of diabetes mellitus, initially managed with insulin and metformin, who developed euDKA following the introduction of empagliflozin and sitagliptin alongside a reduction in insulin therapy. Despite normoglycaemia the patient exhibited symptoms of ketoacidosis, including chronic fatigue, polydipsia, and polyuria. Diagnostic workup revealed metabolic acidosis, elevated inflammatory markers, acute kidney injury and ketonuria. Subsequent specialised laboratory tests confirmed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with the presence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies and the absence of C-peptide secretion. Management involved fluid therapy, intravenous insulin and glucose administration. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of euDKA and emphasises the importance of differentiating between T1DM and T2DM, as management strategies vary significantly. Patient education on insulin therapy and injection techniques is crucial to prevent complications such as improper…

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free