A Case Report of Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Setting of Keto Diet and SGLT-2 Inhibitors

Background: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis is relatively uncommon. Studies of SGLT inhibitors, when added to either insulin pumps or multiple daily injections have shown glycemic benefit in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), with reductions of Hba1c, body weight, glucose variability, without increased hypoglycemia, but with increase of DKA. We report a case of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with type 1 DM, precipitated by keto diet and SGLT-2 inhibitor use. Clinical Case: A 24 year-old female with 17 years of type 1DM, using insulin pump therapy and empagliflozin, started a keto diet, then stopped meal time boluses, and eventually turned off her pump. Urine ketones were high. After 12 hours, she developed fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath, and presented to the emergency room. She was afebrile with BP 112/68, HR 123 beats/minute, respiratory rate 18, and oxygen saturation on room air 99%. Physical exam: anxious in mild distress, abdomen was diffusely tender without guarding. Laboratory results: sodium 141 mmol/L, potassium 5.3 mmol/L, chloride 103 mmol/L, CO2 8 mmol/L, Anion gap 30 mmol/L, with blood glucose of 201 mg/dL,and BUN 22 mg/dL, creatinine 1.55 mg/dL, GFR 41 ml/min/1.73m, Hba1c 7.2%, Normal thyroid tests, WBC 23.1 10x3/ul, Hgb 16.6 g/dl, HCT 53.3%, normal differential, Urine: ketones >=80 mg/dl, Protein 30 mg/dl, urine glucose >500 mg/dl. CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast: questionable regional colitis of ascending colon with prominent distended stomach, and possible functional obstruction, such as diabetic gastroparesis, and fatty infiltration of liver. An insulin infusion per DKA protocol was started. Over the next few days, she continued with high anion gap and low CO2; requiring bicarbonate drip. By day 3, laboratory results finally improved. Symptoms completely resolved, and the patient was started on a carbohydrate restricted diet with insulin pump therapy, and discharged home after intensive education by the diabetes team. Discussion: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare, but serious complication of DM, characterized by glucose values ≤200 mg/L, ketosis and metabolic acidosis. Possible risk factors include decreased caloric intake, keto diet, heavy alcohol consumption, change in insulin regimen, chronic liver disease, pregnancy, and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. This case highlights the complex interplay between type 1 DM, a keto diet, in combination with SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy, which may result in euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, and also demonstrates the importance of patient education regarding risks of ketoacidosis in the setting of SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy, in conjunction with low calorie intake and diets, such as the keto diet. Reference: (1) Julio Rosenstock, et al. Empagliflozin as Adjunctive to Insulin Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes: The EASE Trials. Diabetes Care 2018 Dec; 41(12): 2560–2569.