Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, integral in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management, are not without risks, with reported adverse effects including euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA). We present a case of a 75-year-old female with T2DM on canagliflozin, who developed altered mental status (AMS), nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. The laboratory results revealed ketoacidosis, elevated troponins, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), prompting the cessation of canagliflozin. This paradoxical EDKA case underscores the necessity for cautious prescribing. Additionally, our discussion delves into the risk factors, mechanisms, and epidemiology of EDKA associated with SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), emphasizing the importance of individualized medicine and shared decision-making in their use, despite their proven cardiovascular benefits.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are a novel class of anti-hyperglycemic agents. Although several cases of perioperative euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis have been linked to these medications, the association remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor use and the incidence of perioperative metabolic acidosis with euglycemia, the surrogating outcome of perioperative euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis.
METHODS: This was a retrospective, matched cohort study, which was conducted in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care facility in Japan. We identified patients aged 20 years or older with diabetes mellitus who received pharmacologic therapy and were admitted to the intensive care unit after elective surgery between April 2014 and March 2019. We extracted the following data from the electronic medical record for matching: age, sex, surgery year, surgical site, hemoglobin A1c level, and prescription for sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. Eligible patients were divided into two groups, those who were prescribed sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i group) and those who were not (control group). For each patient in the SGLT2-i group, we randomly selected four patients from the control group matched for the extracted characteristics. The primary outcome was the incidence of metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap and euglycemia. The secondary outcome was the lowest pH value of each patient during their ICU stay.
RESULTS: A total of 155 patients were included in this study. Patients receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors had comparable characteristics to control participants; however, the proportions of patients undergoing dialysis were not similar. Metabolic acidosis with euglycemia was seen in 7/31 (22.6%) patients receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and in 10/124 (8.1%) control patients (p = 0.047).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors is associated with a significantly higher incidence of metabolic acidosis with euglycemia. Patients receiving sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors who are scheduled to undergo invasive surgical procedures should be closely monitored for the development of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis.