Ruptured ectopic pregnancy presenting with hyperglycaemia

A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is always an emergency. The key to successful treatment is early diagnosis, which is not always easy, mainly because typical presenting features may be absent. We report a case of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that presented with a gastroenteritis illness together with hyperglycaemia, leading to an initial diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The patient was treated successfully, however, once the correct diagnosis had been made. We conclude that a urine pregnancy test should be a routine procedure in all abdominal emergencies involving female patients of childbearing age, to avoid misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis.