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Case Report Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis with canagliflozin Not-so-sweet but avoidable complication of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use Maureen Clement MD CCFP Peter Senior MB BS PhD FRCP(E) FRCP odium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been approved in Canada for use in the management of type S2 diabetes (T2DM) since May 2014. Three agents from this class are licensed in Canada (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin). These agents are likely to be used commonly in family practice because they are once-daily oral medications that lower blood glucose levels and they are associated with weight loss, lower blood pressure, and a low risk of hypoglycemia. Furthermore, recent evidence showed reduced cardiovascular mortality with empagliflozin.1 The Canadian Diabetes Association clinical practice guidelines were updated in 2015 to include this class. They note a risk of “rare diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA] (may occur with no hyperglycemia),”2 a potentially life-threatening condition that has been observed in some postmarketing reports. Here we present a case of euglycemic DKA asso- ciated with use of an SGLT2 inhibitor, with discussion of the potential mechanism of progression to DKA, consider- ations for prevention and recognition of this complication, and safe prescribing of this class. Case In February 2015, a 42-year-old woman presented to a community emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. Her past history included T2DM since age 28, hypertension, obesity, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, and poly- cystic ovary syndrome. Her medications included 1000 mg of metformin twice daily, multidose insulin (MDI) with glargine twice daily and rapid-acting insulin 3 times daily, 10 mg of ramipril once daily, 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide EDITor’s KEY POINTS once daily, 10 mg of rosuvastatin once daily, 150 mg of • Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are medroxyprogesterone every 3 months, and 88 mg of levo- not indicated for use in type 1 diabetes. However, some thyroxine once daily. Her diabetes had been initially treat- patients with apparent type 2 diabetes (T2DM) might in ed with metformin and sulfonylureas; she started taking fact have latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). insulin 5 years after diagnosis when planning a pregnancy. Post partum she continued taking MDI but resumed met- • To reduce the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with formin. Two months before presentation, 100 mg of cana- SGLT2 inhibitor use, ensure that the patients for whom these gliflozin daily was added to improve glycemic control and agents are prescribed definitely have T2DM; LADA can easily be overlooked in primary care, as it can develop slowly and facilitate weight loss. This was associated with a marked improvement in blood glucose level (hemoglobin A con- oral agents might be effective for a period of time. 1c centration went from 10% to 8.7%), despite a substantial • In patients with little or no insulin production—such reduction in insulin dose (90 units per day [1.0 unit/kg/d] as in type 1 diabetes, LADA, pancreatitis, or very long- to 50 units per day [0.63 units/kg/d]), and considerable standing T2DM treated with insulin with little pancreatic weight loss (89 to 80 kg). Six days before presentation her insulin production—DKA is a possibility. The diagnosis of canagliflozin dose was increased to 150 mg daily and her DKA for patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors should not be insulin dose was 40 units per day (0.5 units/kg/d). The ruled out because of a glucose level in the normal range. day before admission she felt unwell with some shortness of breath accompanied by nausea and vomiting, which This article is eligible for Mainpro+ certified she attributed to a flulike illness. Concerned about hypogly- Self-Learning credits. To earn credits, go to cemia, she omitted her insulin and monitored her capillary www.cfp.ca and click on the Mainpro+ link. blood glucose levels, which were all below 12 mmol/L. She This article has been peer reviewed. became increasingly short of breath and was brought to Can Fam Physician 2016;62:725-8 the ED. On examination, she was agitated but conscious La traduction en français de cet article se trouve à and was afebrile, with an increased respiratory rate of www.cfp.ca dans la table des matières du numéro de 25 breaths/min. There were no physical findings of infec- septembre 2016 à la page e518. tion or abnormalities on cardiorespiratory examination, nor were there signs to suggest pulmonary embolus. VOL 62: SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBRE 2016 | Canadian Family Physician • Le Médecin de famille canadien 725 Case Report | Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis with canagliflozin Findings from a chest x-ray scan and electrocardio- supportive, but a negative result does not exclude a gram were normal. Her capillary blood glucose level diagnosis of T1DM, as this test can have negative results was 15.2 mmol/L, and initial bloodwork showed a in up to 20% of adults.3 high anion gap and metabolic acidosis (pH of 7.07, Diabetic ketoacidosis is most commonly seen in anion gap of 30 mmol/L, PCO2 of 0.9 kPa, and bicar- T1DM but it does occur in T2DM, albeit at a very low bonate level < 3 mmol/L). A diagnosis of DKA was rate (0.32 to 2.0 per 1000 patient-years, according to made and standard treatment was initiated with data from a database collected before SGLT2 approval intravenous insulin and fluids. Although blood glu- [unpublished data from Y. Wang et al]). Diabetic keto- cose levels fell quickly below 10 mmol/L, her acidosis acidosis can develop if insulin requirements exceed the was somewhat resistant. Because she remained aci- insulin available, particularly if this mismatch is marked dotic (pH of 6.9), a bolus of bicarbonate was admin- or prolonged. Such mismatches will develop if insulin istered before transfer to a tertiary centre where she is omitted in T1DM, but can arise in both T1DM and recovered with continued fluids and intravenous insu- T2DM when insulin requirements are increased, for lin. No obvious precipitating cause of DKA was iden- example during intercurrent illnesses, largely as a result tified, except for insulin omission. C-peptide levels of increased counterregulatory hormones (epinephrine, were undetectable indicating no endogenous insulin cortisol, glucagon, and growth hormone), which oppose secretion. The SGLT2 inhibitor was discontinued and the actions of insulin. This might happen particularly the patient returned to her original therapy with MDI when there is long-standing T2DM, or “burnt-out diabe- and metformin. Since discontinuing canagliflozin her tes,” with very little in the way of insulin production. glycemic control is worse despite increased insulin This deficiency of insulin, absolute or relative, leads doses (90 units per day), and she has regained the to unrestrained lipolysis, which overwhelms the liver’s weight she had lost. capacity to metabolize free fatty acids, resulting in keto- genesis and ultimately ketoacidosis. As only relatively Discussion small amounts of insulin are required to restrain lipolysis This report illustrates an atypical case of DKA with only and ketogenesis, DKA is uncommon in T2DM, in which minor hyperglycemia in a patient taking an SGLT2 inhib- endogenous insulin production generally persists. The risk itor for what appeared to be T2DM. There are several is much greater in T1DM if insulin is omitted, as there is factors that could easily have resulted in the diagnosis no endogenous insulin production to prevent lipolysis. of DKA being missed or delayed. Diabetic ketoacidosis is Because insulin’s main role is glucose regulation, it most commonly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), is not surprising that in situations of insulin deficiency, while her clinical history and phenotype were consis- hyperglycemia and ketonemia are closely coupled. tent with a clinical diagnosis of T2DM. Her “shortness Furthermore, treatment with insulin will lead to resolu- of breath” due to Kussmaul breathing as a result of her tion of both. acidemia is a rare cause of respiratory distress present- The unique feature illustrated by this case of DKA ing to the ED, which most commonly is due to cardiac associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use is the appar- or respiratory causes. Finally, hyperglycemia (glucose ent uncoupling of ketonemia from hyperglycemia. The level > 14 mmol/L) is generally a cardinal feature in SGLT2 inhibitors lower blood glucose levels through an most common definitions of DKA. insulin-independent means of glucose disposal by pre- Thus, the absence of marked hyperglycemia is strik- venting reabsorption of filtered glucose in the proximal ing. Her blood glucose had not been elevated the day convoluted tubule. Those using SGLT2 inhibitors need before admission and was only 15 mmol/L on admis- less insulin to control blood glucose levels. As a result sion. The DKA was likely due to insulin omission in there will be less insulin available to restrain lipolysis. a patient with unrecognized insulin deficiency. It is This increases the risk of DKA, particularly during inter- unclear whether her nausea was due to a concomitant current illness, when counterregulatory hormone levels viral illness precipitating DKA or a consequence of early increase. Unrestrained lipolysis will lead to ketonemia, DKA resulting from excessive reductions in insulin dos- but without any marked rise in blood glucose levels ing after addition of the SGLT2 inhibitor. because of ongoing glucosuria (Figure 1). Although this patient had transitioned to insulin after This uncoupling of hyperglycemia and ketonemia a relatively short period, she had several clinical fea- with insulin deficiency in those taking SGLT2 inhibi- tures commonly associated with insulin resistance (obe- tors is especially dangerous because hyperglycemia is sity, hypertension, and polycystic ovary syndrome), and an important trigger for patients and health care pro- her insulin requirements were more typical of T2DM.

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