We describe a case report of a patient who presented with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA), six days after starting treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, Canagliflozin. ‘Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis’ or ‘DKA with lower-than-anticipated glucose levels’ (as recommended by AACE/ACE) is a rare, challenging and easy to miss the diagnosis
A 41-year-old male with a history of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus presented with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Canagliflozin (SGLT2 inhibitor) was added to his anti-diabetic regimen of Metformin and Sitagliptin. Six days later, he presented with symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis with normal blood glucose of 131mg/dl. The patient was further investigated with arterial blood gas analysis and serum ketone studies, keeping in view of the potential of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) with SGLT2 inhibitor use. The clinical picture and lab values of the patient were consistent with diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA), although it is rare in type 2 DM. Blood glucose was in the normal range which could have delayed the diagnosis if the physician was not vigilant. If one had only focused on the blood glucose, then this potentially fatal condition could have been missed. However, when other causes of anion gap metabolic acidosis were excluded and the lab values of urine ketones, elevated beta-hydroxybutyrate, reduced bicarbonate, and normal lactate interpreted, it leads to the diagnosis of SGLT2 inhibitor-associated euglycemic DKA.
We performed a literature review of this topic and discuss the history of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of SGLT2 inhibitor-induced euDKA.
Severe euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis of multifactorial etiology in a type 2 diabetic patient treated with empagliflozin: case report and literature review
