SAT-LB110 Sulfonylurea-Induced Hypoglycemia: To Use Octreotide or Not

Abstract

Background: Sulfonylurea poisoning can cause sustained hypoglycemia refractory to intravenous dextrose. Traditional treatment for sulfonylurea induced hypoglycemia includes intravenous dextrose and glucagon as well as diazoxide in refractory cases. Octreotide is recommended for sulfonylurea poisoning in adult and pediatric patients with laboratory evidence of hypoglycemia.Clinical Case: An 89 year-old female with chronic kidney disease stage III, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension who presented with intractable nausea and diarrhea. Patient had been taking cefdinir for an UTI the prior week. On CT scan of the abdomen, colitis was demonstrated. Clostridium Difficile Assay was positive. She was incidentally found to have profound hypoglycemia with a blood glucose level of 30 mg/dL. Patient had hypoglycemia unawareness. Despite receiving 4 ampules of dextrose 50%, glucose level did not significantly improve. In the ED, patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Her labs were significant for a hyponatremia of 125 mmol/L with an acute kidney injury [AKI] (Cr 1.94 mg/dL from 1.5 mg/dL). Patient was placed initially on a dextrose 5% normal saline infusion, but glucose levels continued to decline after brief response. Due to poor IV access, internal jugular central line was placed and patient was placed on D10NS infusion with good glycemic response. Patient had taken sulfonylurea despite not eating appropriately for 2 days. After 24 hours on D10 normal saline infusion, patient was able to maintain normal to slightly hyperglycemic levels with consistent carbohydrate diet. Her nausea and diarrhea had considerably improved after starting vancomycin 125 mg every 6 hours. Sulfonyurea was indefinitely discontinued.Conclusion: Patients presenting with sulfonylurea induced hypoglycemia complicated by poor PO intake, AKI, and infection can be safely treated with supportive measures like proper hydration, and dextrose infusion medication is appropriately metabolized by body without the need for octreotide infusion.