Inflammatory cytokine and plasma C-reactive protein response to ketoacidosis in adults with type 1 diabetes: Egyptian multicenter study

Case report: catamenial hyperglycemia: the trigger of recurrent DKA in a female patient with three-year follow-up

Background

Catamenial hyperglycemia is a rare type of spontaneous, recurring Diabetic Ketoacidosis(DKA) in females during the luteal phase, most commonly observed in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Even with controlled serum glucose levels, adherence to a diabetic diet, medications, and in the absence of other common influencing factors such as infection, glucose levels tend to increase during the premenstrual period. This uncommon issue related to the menstrual cycle phase has not been extensively researched. Therefore, this study aims to diagnose catamenial hyperglycemia promptly and initiate early treatment to prevent complications.

Case report

We presented a case of a 19-year-old girl who experienced recurrent DKA during the premenstrual period, without an apparent cause. She was admitted multiple times to various hospitals and sought consultations, undergoing numerous laboratory and imaging examinations, yet the etiology remained elusive. Ultimately, she received a diagnosis of catamenial diabetic hyperglycemia. To prevent recurrence of complications associated with catamenial hyperglycemia, we initiated a comprehensive approach which included continuous glucose monitoring, adherence to a strict diabetic diet, diabetic health education, regular exercise, timely medication administration, and increase in insulin dosage during the premenstrual period based on glucose levels.

Conclusions

Although catamenial hyperglycemia is rare, it should be considered a cause of recurrent hyperglycemia in any postpubertal female to prevent complications. The specific underlying mechanisms responsible for catamenial hyperglycemia or DKA remain unidentified.

Predictors of new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 receiving parenteral glucocorticoids: A prospective single-centre study among Indian type 2 diabetes patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

COVID-19 infection predisposes to diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA); whether glucocorticoids enhances this risk is unknown.We aimed to study the occurrence of DKA after initiating glucocorticoids in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) and moderate-to-severe COVID-19, and identify predictors for it.

METHODS

Patients with T2DM and moderate or severe COVID-19 infection were prospectively observed for development of new-onset DKA for one week following initiation of parenteral dexamethasone. Clinical and biochemical parameters were compared between those who developed DKA (Group A) and those who didnot (Group B). Logistic regression was done to identify independent risk-factors predicting DKA; ROC-curve analysis to determine cut-offs for the parameters in predicting DKA.

RESULTS

Amongst 302 patients screened, n = 196 were finally included, of whom 13.2% (n = 26,Group A) developed DKA. Patients in Group A were younger, had lower BMI, increased severity of COVID-19 infection, higher HbA1c%, CRP, IL-6, D-dimer and procalcitonin at admission (pall < 0.02). Further, admission BMI (OR: 0.43, CI: 0.27-0.69), HbA1c % (OR: 1.68, CI: 1.16-2.43) and serum IL-6 (OR: 1.02, CI: 1.01-1.03) emerged as independent predictors for DKA. Out of these, IL-6 levels had the highest AUROC (0.93, CI: 0.89-0.98) with a cut-off of 50.95 pg/ml yielding a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 85.2% in predicting DKA.

CONCLUSION

There is significant incidence of new-onset DKA following parenteral glucocorticoids in T2DM patients with COVID-19, especially in those with BMI <25.56 kg/m2, HbA1c% >8.35% and IL-6 levels >50.95 pg/ml at admission.