A 50-year-old man on ICU has acute pancreatitis with a glucose of 2.8 mmol/L despite receiving 10% dextrose infusion. He has no history of diabetes an...

Question

A 50-year-old man on ICU has acute pancreatitis with a glucose of 2.8 mmol/L despite receiving 10% dextrose infusion. He has no history of diabetes and is not on insulin or oral hypoglycaemics. What does spontaneous hypoglycaemia indicate in severe pancreatitis?

Accepted Answer

Severe pancreatic damage with destruction of islet cells (both insulin-producing beta cells AND glucagon-producing alpha cells), combined with hepatic dysfunction from the systemic inflammatory response - this carries a poor prognosis and is a marker of disease severity

Answer

Normal finding requiring no concern

Answer

Insulin overdose

Answer

The glucose monitor is faulty

Answer

Hypoglycaemia is protective in pancreatitis

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Hypoglycaemia in Pancreatitis

A 50-year-old man on ICU has acute pancreatitis with a glucose of 2.8 mmol/L despite receiving 10% dextrose infusion. He has no history of diabetes and is not on insulin or oral hypoglycaemics. What does spontaneous hypoglycaemia indicate in severe pancreatitis?