2008 Volume 51 Issue 1 Pages 19-25
A 63-year-old woman admitted for left hypochondalgia and left back pain on February 27, 2004, had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and treated with oral hypoglycemic agents since 8 years earlier. She was diagnosed with severe acute pancreatitis and treated with a continuous intravenous infusion of rapid insulin. She required 217 units of insulin per day to maintain plasma glucose below 150 mg/dl. The required dose of insulin gradually decreased with improvement of in her condition. Before discharge, her hyperglycemia was successfully controlled with oral hypoglycemic agents without insulin. Hyperglycemia is a risk factor in acute pancreatitis and strict glycemic control plays an important role in improving mortality in severe acute pancreatitis.
