Association between diabetic ketoacidosis and thyrotoxicosis

• Published in: Acta diabetologica Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 235 - 237
• Main Authors: SOLA, E, MORILLAS, C, GARZON, S, GOMEZ-BALAGUER, M, HERNANDEZ-MIJARES, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer International 01-12-2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Associated diseases and complications; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Ketoacidosis - etiology; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Graves Disease - complications; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Thyrotoxicosis - complications; Endocrinopathy; Case study; Human; Concomitant disease; Graves' disease; Ketoacidosis; Diabetes mellitus; Hyperthyroidism; Thyroid diseases; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Complication; Female
• ISSN: 0940-5429; 1432-5233
• DOI: 10.1007/s005920200040

Three cases of diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated by thyrotoxicosis are presented. Two of them are young women with type 1 diabetes mellitus; the third case is a middle-aged woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus. All of them were diagnosed with Graves' disease. They typically showed tachycardia at rest in spite of correction of the metabolic disorder. Hyperthyroidism worsens glycemic control in diabetic patients and may precipitate diabetic ketoacidosis. On the other hand, women with diabetes have a higher prevalence of Graves' disease. Thus, in diabetic ketoacidosis without an obvious triggering factor, the presence of hyperthyroidism should be investigated, particularly in women.