Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements
05:42

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements

Published on: January 7, 2019

32.8K

Fatal Diabetic Ketoacidosis-A Potential Complication of MDMA (Ecstasy) Use

John D Gilbert1, Roger W Byard1,2

  • 1Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, 5000, Australia.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|August 3, 2017
PubMed

Insights

A young woman with diabetes died from ketoacidosis, likely triggered by ecstasy and alcohol. This case highlights the dangerous interaction between illicit drugs and diabetes complications.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Toxicology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Illicit drug use is increasingly recognized among young individuals with diabetes mellitus.
  • There is limited information regarding the relationship between drug use and acute diabetic complications.

Observation:

  • Autopsy revealed cerebral microhemorrhages, subnuclear vacuolization, and renal Armanni-Ebstein changes in a 19-year-old woman with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
  • Biochemical analysis confirmed severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with high glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels.
  • Toxicology detected a low level of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) and acetone, but no alcohol or other common drugs.

Findings:

  • Death was attributed to diabetic ketoacidosis, potentially provoked by combined MDMA and alcohol ingestion.
  • The presence of MDMA, even at low levels, alongside acetone suggests a complex metabolic interaction.

Implications:

  • Toxicological screening in fatal DKA cases among young individuals is crucial for understanding lethal mechanisms.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the extent of the problem and the specific risks posed by drug use in diabetic patients.
Keywords:
MDMAdeathdiabetes mellitusecstasyforensic sciencehyperglycemiaketoacidosis

More Related Videos

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry10:17

High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: April 23, 2019

10.4K
Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion07:30

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion

Published on: May 10, 2018

9.8K

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
2.5K
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
1.1K
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without...
1000
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
5.2K
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
3.9K
Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

Toxidromes: Clinical Features

Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
45