Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Type 2 Diabetic Patient Treated with Empagliflozin: Case Report

Abstract

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are a relatively novel class of oral medications for the treatment of Type 2 DM with a generally acceptable safety profile. Euglycemic DKA is a diagnostic challenge for physicians due to the variety of etiologies and normal blood glucose levels, often resulting in delayed diagnosis. Euglycemic ketoacidosis is a rare but rather serious complication of SGLT-2 inhibitors use, often with a multifactorial etiology. Its atypical presentation requires a high level of awareness by physicians as early recognition of this complication can quickly and safely restore acid-base balance. EuDKA is not identical with the typical diabetic ketoacidosis, as it often presents with serious metabolic acidosis but only mild to moderate glucose and anion gap elevation. Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who experienced nausea, vomiting, malaise, or develop metabolic acidosis in the setting of SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy should be promptly evaluated for the presence of urine and/or serum ketones.

Keywords

• sglt2 inhibitors
• diabetic ketoacidosis
• euglycemia