Reversal of pentamidine-induced hypoglycaemia with oral diazoxide

Hypoglycaemia is a common and occasionally life-threatening complication of therapy with pentamidine isethionate. We observed inappropriately elevated insulin levels in a patient with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and pentamidine-induced hypoglycaemia. Oral diazoxide was effective in reversing the marked hypoglycaemia. Pentamidine may exert its hypoglycaemic effect by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas.