TITLE:
Metformin Intoxication: A Case of a Combination of Severe Hypoglycaemia and Severe Lactic Acidosis (LA)
AUTHORS:
Dinette Agterhuis, Hanneke Freling, Margreet Henstra, Thiemo F. Veneman
KEYWORDS:
Metformin, Lactic Acidosis, Auto-Intoxication
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Diabetes Mellitus,
Vol.5 No.2,
May
14,
2015
ABSTRACT: Metformin is a worldwide used and effective
antihyperglycemic agent. It is generally well tolerated but contraindicated
in severe renal dysfunction. Metformin does not cause hypoglycaemia, however
this case describes hypoglycaemia after an overdose. Another well-known, but
rare and potentially life-threatening complication of metformin is the
occurrence of LA, the so-called metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA).
The severe consequences of an overdose of metformin, as well as the
pathophysiologic mechanisms and the clinical consequences of LA in combination
with severe hypoglycaemia are described in this report. Early recognition and
swift clinical intervention is of paramount importance in case of
auto-intoxication with metformin to prevent a lethal outcome.