Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Caused by SGLT2 Inhibitors and a Ketogenic Diet: A Case Series and Review of Literature

Abstract

Objective: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a relatively novel class of oral medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Their use has increased recently due to their beneficial renal and cardiovascular outcomes, but they come with the rare risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at normal or slightly elevated glucose values, termed euglycemic DKA (euDKA). Recently, carbohydrate-deprived, ketogenic diets have gained popularity due to benefits of weight loss and improved control of T2DM. We describe 2 patients with T2DM who developed euDKA caused by SGLT2 inhibitor use while on a ketogenic diet and provide a review of the literature.

Methods: We describe the hospital course, laboratory data, and treatment of 2 patients and provide a literature review.

Results: Both of our patients were found to have normal or mildly elevated serum glucose levels, with an elevated anion gap and ketosis, representative of euDKA. The first patient developed euDKA after only 1 dose of empagliflozin, while the second patient developed euDKA after only 1 week of being on a ketogenic diet while on an SGLT2 inhibitor.

Conclusion: While there have been a few reports of euDKA with SGLT2 inhibitors and ketogenic diets, many physicians prescribing these medications may not be aware of this association. Therefore, they must inform their patients to avoid a ketogenic diet if on an SGLT2 inhibitor. If a patient presents with symptoms of DKA and is eating a carbohydrate-free diet while taking an SGLT2 inhibitor, there should be a low threshold to screen for DKA.

Keywords: DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis; HbA1C, hemoglobin A1C; SGLT2 inhibitor; SGLT2, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2; T1DM, type 1 diabetes mellitus; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; euDKA, euglycemic DKA, decarboxylase; euglycemic DKA; ketogenic diet.