Citation

Matsumura M, Nakashima A, Tofuku Y. Intern. Med. 2000; 39(1): 55-57.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine)

DOI

10.2169/internalmedicine.39.55

PMID

10674850

Abstract

We present a case of a 47-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who attempted suicide with 2,100 U of insulin injected subcutaneously. Administration of dextrose intravenously was required to maintain the blood glucose concentration normally for 5 days. Moreover, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia were also seen for 24 hours after insulin injection. The serum phosphorus and magnesium concentrations decreased to nadirs of 1.6 mg/dl and 1.6 mg/dl respectively 7 hours after insulin injection. Electrolyte disorders other than hypokalemia may be induced in hypoglycemic patients by massive insulin overdose.

Language: en

Keywords

Blood Glucose/metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*blood; Drug Overdose; Electrolytes/metabolism; Humans; Insulin/blood/*poisoning; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide, Attempted; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance/*chemically induced