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Diabetic ketoacidosis associated with lithium: case report
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|November 1, 1985
Summary
Lithium treatment can trigger diabetic ketoacidosis in some individuals. Discontinuation of lithium may necessitate ongoing insulin therapy for managing diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Lithium is a mood stabilizer commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder.
- Metabolic side effects of lithium, including effects on glucose homeostasis, are recognized but not fully understood.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old male patient developed diabetic ketoacidosis after 4 months of lithium therapy.
- The patient's condition required daily insulin administration.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of lithium therapy was followed by the resolution of diabetic ketoacidosis.
- The patient continued to require daily insulin, indicating a persistent impact on glucose regulation.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential, serious metabolic complication of lithium treatment.
- Clinicians should monitor for glucose dysregulation in patients on lithium.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking lithium to diabetic ketoacidosis.