Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes After Initiation of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Treatment

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Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were recently introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). SGLT2i lower plasma glucose by inhibiting the renal reuptake of glucose leading to glucosuria. Generally, these drugs are considered safe to use. However, recently, SGLT2i have been suggested to predispose to ketoacidosis. Here, we present a case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) developed in an obese, poorly controlled male patient with T2D treated with the SGLT2i dapagliflozin. He was admitted with DKA 5 days after the initiation of treatment with the SGLT2i dapagliflozin. On admission, the primary symptoms were nausea and dizziness, and he was hypertensive (170/103) and tachycardic (119 bpm) and had mild hyperglycaemia (15.3 mmol/l), severe ketonuria and severe metabolic acidosis (pH 7.08). He responded well to infusions of insulin, glucose and saline and was discharged after 72 hr with insulin as the only glucose-lowering therapy. After 1 month, dapagliflozin was reintroduced as add-on to insulin with no recurrent signs of ketoacidosis. During acute illness or other conditions with increased insulin demands in diabetes, SGLT2i may predispose to the formation of ketone bodies and ensuing acidosis.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBasic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Volume118
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)168-170
Number of pages3
ISSN1742-7835
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2016

    Research areas

  • Adult, Benzhydryl Compounds, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Glucosides, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Kidney Tubules, Proximal, Male, Medication Therapy Management, Obesity, Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2, Treatment Outcome, Case Reports, Journal Article

ID: 174010719