A Case of SGLT2 Inhibitor-Associated Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a novel group of oral hypoglycemic agents with multiple proven beneficial effects. However, their use has been associated with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), typically triggered by risk factors such as acute illness, surgery, and decreased calorie intake. Therefore, it is recommended that patients discontinue SGLT2 inhibitors at least 24 hours before surgery to minimize this risk. We report a case of a postoperative euglycemic DKA in a patient who had discontinued SGLT2 inhibitor therapy 48 hours prior to surgery. METHODS: We describe the clinical course of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus on empagliflozin therapy who was referred for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. RESULTS: A 60-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus developed euglycemic DKA a few hours after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Laboratory results showed acute postoperative elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis with normal glucose and elevated blood ketone levels. It was later revealed that the patient was treated as an outpatient with empagliflozin; the last dose was taken 48 hours prior to his procedure. CONCLUSION: Euglycemic DKA can occur postoperatively in patients with a history of SGLT2 inhibitor use, even 48 hours after the discontinuation of therapy. This case highlights the need to revisit the recommended time to discontinue these agents, specifically prior to major surgery, because their pharmacokinetic effects may persist after 24 hours of discontinuation, putting patients at risk for postoperative euglycemic DKA.

Glycemic Profile of Intravenous Dexamethasone-Induced Hyperglycemia Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

BACKGROUND Intravenous (IV) dexamethasone is widely used in critical illness, chemotherapy, or severe COVID-19. Although glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia (GCIH) is well-known, there is no report describing the glycemic profile following a single dose of IV dexamethasone as captured on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in a patient with diabetes treated with insulin. CASE REPORT A 70-year-old woman with diabetes and pancreatic adenocarcinoma was treated with chemotherapy containing dexamethasone every other week. CGM data of 23 cycles revealed a reproducible triphasic glycemic pattern consisting of a constant hyperglycemia period, followed by a transient improvement, and ending with another hyperglycemic plateau. Given this recurrent pattern, basal insulin and correction insulin were adjusted with subsequent GCIH attenuation. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of CGM glycemic profile following recurring doses of IV dexamethasone in a patient with diabetes treated with basal-bolus insulin. The understanding of triphasic glycemic pattern allows optimal glycemic management.

Statins and New-Onset Diabetes in Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease Cohorts: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Statins have long been prescribed for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and kidney disease. Their benefits and efficacy are widely accepted in current clinical practice, but like any other therapeutic agents, they have adverse effects. One of the emerging concerns with statin therapy is the development of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM), a dreaded risk factor for CVD and kidney disease and widely viewed as CVD equivalent. Accumulating evidence indicates that NODM is a consequence of statin use. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies reporting on associations between NODM and statin use. Based on strict exclusion criteria, a total of 11 studies were selected. Their data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis® statistical software and reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The cumulative fixed effect for use of statin therapy and incident NODM was an OR of 1.61 (95% CI 1.55-1.68, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that statin therapy is associated with NODM, such that there is a small but significant risk of NODM among patients receiving statin for CVD prevention therapy. However, this high-risk population also has other diabetes risk factors (such as obesity and hypertension) contributing to the development of NODM. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative that patients on statin therapy be monitored carefully for NODM. However, it can be argued that the risk of statin therapy is offset by the multitude of cardiovascular and kidney-protective effects provided by such an important and highly effective therapeutic agent.

Extreme insulin resistance in a patient with diabetes ketoacidosis and acute myocardial infarction.

Hyperglycemia is common in hospitalized patients and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In hospitalized patients, multiple factors contribute to hyperglycemia, such as underlying medical conditions, pathophysiological stress, and medications. The development of transient insulin resistance is a known cause of hyperglycemia in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Though physicians are familiar with common diseases that are known to be associated with insulin resistance, the majority of us rarely come across a case of extreme insulin resistance. Here, we report a case of prolonged course of extreme insulin resistance in a patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and acute myocardial infarction (MI). The main purpose of this paper is to review the literature to identify the underlying mechanisms of extreme insulin resistance in a patient with DKA and MI. We will also briefly discuss the different clinical conditions that are associated with insulin resistance and a general approach to a patient with severe insulin resistance.

Hypopituitarism in the elderly.

Pituitary dysfunction in elderly can represent a true diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to clinicians caring for these patients. Symptoms associated with partial or total hypopituitarism, such as fatigue, lower muscle strength and decreased libido, are nonspecific and can be often attributed to normal aging. Gold standard pituitary diagnostic testing carries higher risks in elderly and is classically replaced by alternative testing. Furthermore, the benefits and safety of selective pituitary hormonal replacement, specifically sexual and growth hormone replacement, remain subject of controversy in this group of patients. Recognizing and appropriately treating hypopituitarism in elderly is crucial for the survival and well being of the older patients with this disease.

Update on the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes has emerged as the modern day epidemic that is currently affecting over 220 million people worldwide and claiming at least 1.1 million lives in 2005 alone. The rise in diabetes is largely attributed to the epidemic of obesity together with sedentary lifestyle as well as unhealthy dietary habits. Despite evidence that glycemic control as well as control of other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia decreases morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population, control of glycemia and other CVD risk factors remains largely suboptimal making the concept of prevention of diabetes very appealing to control CVD risk, especially that such a risk is already increased in people in the prediabetic stage. Several large controlled trials have been completed testing various options for diabetes prevention. In this paper we present an update on prevention of type 2 diabetes highlighting the major recent trials completed to date in this very important area of investigation.

Prevention of type 2 DM: implications for adolescents and young adults.

Type 2 Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among adults in the USA and worldwide. With the rising epidemic of obesity among children and adolescents, a parallel epidemic of type 2 diabetes is also observed in this patient population. Control of diabetes and its complications, mainly cardiovascular disease has been sub-optimal at best. Therefore, effort trials have been conducted and others are ongoing to assess various modalities for diabetes prevention among adults, ranging from diet and exercise to pharmacological agents of various classes. Recently, concerted efforts have been made for prevention of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents. In this paper we discuss the diabetes prevention rationale and methods among adults and the implications of these efforts for children and adolescents. We also highlight the ongoing efforts for diabetes prevention in trials specifically designed to address the adolescent population.