2a:T554,

Purpose: This case report reviews the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of persistent hypoglycemia in a patient without a history of diabetes. The use of laboratory tests to differentiate between drug-induced and disease-induced hypoglycemia is reviewed. Summary: A 51-year-old female with multiple medical conditions including bipolar disorder and no history of diabetes was admitted for evaluation and treatment of hypoglycemia. Pharmacotherapy included intravenous dextrose infusions and bolus doses. A battery of tests was ordered to evaluate intrinsic and extrinsic causes. Endocrine Society guidelines for hypoglycemia exist and have recommendations for testing and strategies to rule out drug-related causes. Her insulin level was 57 IU/mL (normal range < 17). Her proinsulin level was 356.8 pmol/L (normal range <8.8). Conclusion: The guidelines recommend a battery of laboratory tests; however, the results are not rapidly available necessitating a structured follow-up process. In our patient, exposure to hypoglycemic agents and exogenous insulin can be ruled out. Autoimmune hypoglycemia or a hypoglycemic reaction to one of her home medications is very unlikely, but cannot be ruled out. An insulinoma is the most likely etiology of her hypoglycemia, but that cannot be confirmed.

2b:T546,

This review presents clinical pearls for initiating liraglutide (Victoza®, Novo Nordisk Inc) therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes and selecting patients who will benefit from liraglutide therapy. Liraglutide, a once-daily glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, is Food and Drug Administration approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide is effective for reducing hemoglobin A_1c levels by 0.8% to 1.5% in patients with type 2 diabetes as monotherapy or in combination with other diabetic medications (such as metformin, sulfonylureas, rosiglitazone, or basal insulin) when compared with placebo and these other diabetic medications, including exenatide. Overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes or those with insulin resistance are good candidates for liraglutide therapy because liraglutide use is associated with weight loss (about 2%-4% of initial body weight) and improved β-cell function. The incidence of hypoglycemia with liraglutide is low; therefore, liraglutide would be a safe therapy choice for patients at risk or with a history of symptomatic or severe hypoglycemia. Nausea seems to be the most problematic adverse effect associated with liraglutide therapy, but it is usually transient and is minimized with dose titration.

2c:T63d,