Insulin overdose complicated by treatment‐induced acute hepatic steatosis in a nondiabetic patient

Abstract

Background There are few reports of dextrose‐associated hepatic steatosis during insulin overdose treatment. Reports in nondiabetic patients are extremely rare. There is inadequate knowledge about the clinical course and treatment. Case Presentation A 37‐year‐old previously healthy, nondiabetic man self‐administered 5,925 IU of insulin. On admission, his liver function tests were normal. However, following continued dextrose treatment, they increased, and he was diagnosed with hepatic steatosis. The liver function tests improved with decreasing dextrose dosage, and he was asymptomatic on discharge. Conclusion Acute hepatic steatosis may occur in nondiabetic and diabetic patients during treatment requiring large doses of dextrose infusion, such as for an insulin overdose. In addition, the degree of liver damage might also be related to the dextrose dose. Therefore, careful glycemic control and minimization of the dextrose dosage are recommended for diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Keywords

• Dextrose
• drug overdose
• hepatic steatosis
• insulin
• liver injury