Fatal insulin overdoses among diabetics and non-diabetics in South Australia

Abstract

Deaths due to insulin overdose and subsequent hypoglycaemia have been reported in the literature since it was first introduced as an antidiabetic agent.1,2 While non-fatal accidental insulin overdoses are recognised as a common cause of hospital admission among insulin-dependent diabetics, fatal cases are much less frequent.3 Between 2000 and 2019, 40 cases of fatal insulin overdose were identified in South Australia from records at Forensic Science South Australia and the National Coronial Information System.