Facial flushing secondary to hypoglycemia

J Med. 1987;18(2):123-32.

Abstract

Facial flushing is usually not associated with hypoglycemia. Diabetics treated with chlorpropamide can have an antabuse-like flushing with ingestion of alcohol, but flushing secondary to hypoglycemia per se has not been reported. The first case demonstrating that facial flushing can occur in insulin-induced hypoglycemia is described. This patient had marked erythematous facial flushing that was repeatable with each instance of hypoglycemia. Endocrine evaluation revealed no evidence of carcinoid or a pheochromocytoma in this patient and the facial flushing was unrelated to alcohol. Without insulin-induced hypoglycemia, this diabetic patient has had no further facial flushing in one year follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Flushing / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / complications*
  • Insulin / adverse effects*
  • Male

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin