A treatable cause of recurrent severe hypoglycemia
A treatable cause of recurrent severe hypoglycemia. K J Hardy , M R Burge , P J Boyle and J H Scarpello Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent, U.K. Abstract OBJECTIVE--To see if glucocorticoid deficiency might explain increased insulin sensitiv...
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Published in | Diabetes care Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. 722 - 724 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Alexandria, VA
American Diabetes Association
01.07.1994
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | A treatable cause of recurrent severe hypoglycemia.
K J Hardy ,
M R Burge ,
P J Boyle and
J H Scarpello
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent, U.K.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE--To see if glucocorticoid deficiency might explain increased insulin sensitivity causing severe brittle diabetes
in two type I diabetic patients. CASES--We describe two patients who developed brittle diabetes characterized by recurrent
severe hypoglycemia on small daily insulin doses with severe hyperglycemia on further insulin dose reduction. In both patients,
insulin requirements had fallen markedly. RESULTS--Both patients were found to have glucocorticoid deficiency. In one patient,
this was a result of hypopituitarism, in which hypoglycemia was aggravated by growth hormone deficiency. In the other patient,
glucocorticoid deficiency was the result of primary adrenal failure. Resolution of brittle diabetes and restoration of normal
insulin doses followed steroid replacement therapy in both patients. CONCLUSIONS--These patients emphasize the importance
of seeking an organic cause for recurrent severe hypoglycemia. Increasing insulin sensitivity in type I diabetic patients
should alert clinicians to the possibility of glucocorticoid deficiency. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Case Study-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-4 content type line 23 ObjectType-Report-1 ObjectType-Article-3 |
ISSN: | 0149-5992 1935-5548 |
DOI: | 10.2337/diacare.17.7.722 |