Related Disciplines > Podiatry
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Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Summary
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY3) accounts for approximately 50% of cases of MODY. First-line treatment with sulfonylureas has been well established for individuals with MODY3. In contrast, the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in the treatment of individuals with MODY3 remains unclear. This case illustrates the in vivo effect of an SGLT2 inhibitor in a 30-year-old woman with MODY3 with poor glycaemic control despite the treatment with supramaximal doses of sulfonylurea and metformin. The addition of a SGLT2 inhibitor resulted in a rapid improvement in glycaemic control without any hypoglycaemic episodes. This case suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors may be an effective and potent treatment option in addition to sulfonylureas for individuals with MODY3.
Learning points
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Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3 (MODY3) arises from mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha gene, which controls the expression of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the kidneys.
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Paradoxically, despite individuals with MODY3 having reduced expression of SGLT2, SGLT2 inhibitors induce higher glycosuria in individuals with MODY3 compared to individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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SGLT2 inhibitors may be an effective treatment for achieving glycaemic control in individuals with MODY3.
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Summary
Infection is a common complication of advanced diabetic foot disease, increasing the risk of acute admission and amputation. It is less well-known that foot ulceration and osteomyelitis may cause bacteraemia-associated hematogenous seeding and subsequent epidural abscess formation. Here we describe the case of a 57-year-old woman with known diabetic foot ulcer with underlying osteomyelitis admitted with backpain in the absence of trauma. Her condition deteriorated secondary to overwhelming sepsis. MRI of the spine confirmed spondylodiscitis and posterior epidural collection, not amenable to surgical intervention due to patient’s comorbidities and high surgical risk. Despite prolonged antibiotic therapy, the patient died following a hospital admission lasting 2.5 months. This case highlights the importance of regular contact with diabetes foot service for optimisation and prompt treatment of diabetic foot disease, which can be an underestimated potential source of remote site invasive systemic infection. Secondly, high clinical suspicion in admitting clinicians is imperative in ensuring timely diagnosis and early intervention to minimise fatal consequences.
Learning points:
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Approximately 10% of patients with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer in their lifetime.
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Spondylodiscitis (incorporating vertebral osteomyelitis, spondylitis and discitis) is a rare condition and diabetes is the most common predisposing risk factor.
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Spondylodiscitis often presents with no other symptom other than back pain. Neurological or infective symptoms can be present or absent.
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High clinical suspicion in clinicians is imperative in ensuring timely diagnosis and early intervention to minimise devastating consequences.
Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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Paris-Sud Medical School, Paris-Saclay University, Orsay, France
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Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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Summary
We report the onset of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy during pregnancy in two patients with type 1 diabetes using retrospective review of case notes. We describe for the first time the onset of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy during pregnancy in two patients with type 1 diabetes. Pregnancy may promote the onset and worsening of a number of diabetic complications. A link between pregnancy and the onset of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy is demonstrated for the first time in this report.
Learning points:
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Patients with already diagnosed sensitive neuropathy can develop an active phase of Charcot neuroarthropathy during pregnancy.
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The rapid correction of hyperglycaemia may induce an active phase of Charcot neuroarthropathy during pregnancy.
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Summary
Acute Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CN) is a clinical entity which can easily go unrecognized in its acute early stages due to lack of awareness and unspecific presentation. However, missing early diagnosis can lead to severe complications. We present the case of a 72-year-old male patient who went through the natural course of the disease unnoticed before the very eyes of his physicians leading to a tragic end. We aim to raise awareness for this rare diabetic complication, emphasizing the necessity of early diagnosis and adequate, interdisciplinary treatment.
Learning points:
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Clinical signs and symptoms of acute Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CN).
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Red flags.
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Importance of early diagnosis and correct treatment.
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Diagnostic challenges of acute CN.
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Awareness of high morbidity and mortality.
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Summary
Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome characterised by ischaemic infarction or haemorrhage into a pituitary tumour that can lead to spontaneous remission of hormonal hypersecretion. We report the case of a 50-year-old man who attended the emergency department for sudden onset of headache. A computed tomography (CT) scan at admission revealed pituitary haemorrhage and the blood test confirmed the clinical suspicion of acromegaly and an associated hypopituitarism. The T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the classic pituitary ring sign on the right side of the pituitary. Following admission, he developed acute-onset hyponatraemia that required hypertonic saline administration, improving progressively. Surprisingly, during the follow-up, IGF1 levels became normal and he progressively recovered pituitary function.
Learning points:
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Patients with pituitary apoplexy may have spontaneous remission of hormonal hypersecretion. If it is not an emergency, we should delay a decision to undertake surgery following apoplexy and re-evaluate hormone secretion.
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Hyponatraemia is an acute sign of hypocortisolism in pituitary apoplexy. However, SIADH although uncommon, could appear later as a consequence of direct hypothalamic insult and requires active and individualised treatment. For this reason, closely monitoring sodium at the beginning of the episode and throughout the first week is advisable to guard against SIADH.
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Despite being less frequent, if pituitary apoplexy is limited to the tumour, the patient can recover pituitary function previously damaged by the undiagnosed macroadenoma.
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Summary
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) is a chronic granulomatous dermatitis generally involving the anterior aspect of the shin, that arises in 0.3–1.2% of patients with diabetes mellitus (1). The lesions are often yellow or brown with telangiectatic plaque, a central area of atrophy and raised violaceous borders (2). Similar to other conditions with a high risk of scarring including burns, stasis ulcers and lupus vulgaris, NLD provides a favourable environment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) formation (3). A number of cases of SCC from NLD have been recorded (3, 4, 5); however, our search of the literature failed to identify any cases of either metastatic or fatal SCC which developed within an area of NLD. This article describes a patient with established type 1 diabetes mellitus who died from SCC which developed from an area of NLD present for over 10 years. Currently, there are a paucity of recommendations in the medical literature for screening people with NLD for the early diagnosis of SCC. We believe that clinicians should regard non-healing ulcers in the setting of NLD with a high index of clinical suspicion for SCC, and an early biopsy of such lesions should be recommended.
Learning points:
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Non-healing, recalcitrant ulcers arising from necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, which fail to heal by conservative measures, should be regarded with a high index of clinical suspicion for malignancy.
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If squamous cell carcinoma is suspected, a biopsy should be performed as soon as possible to prevent metastatic spread, amputation or even death.
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Our literature search failed to reveal specific recommendations for screening and follow-up of non-healing recalcitrant ulcers in the setting of necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum.
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Further research is required in this field.
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Summary
Vertebral osteomyelitis (or spondylodiscitis) is steadily increasing in Western countries and often results from hematogenous seeding, direct inoculation during spinal surgery, or contiguous spread from an infection in the adjacent soft tissue. We present the case of a 67-year-old white patient with type 2 diabetes who went to Hospital for high fever, back pain, and worsening of known infected ulcers in the left foot. Despite intravenous antibiotic treatment and surgical debridement of the foot infection, high fever and lower back pain continued. Bone biopsy and two consecutive blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. A spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, revealing serious osteomyelitis in L4 and L5 complicated by an epidural abscess. Contiguous or other distant focuses of infection were not identified. In this case, diabetic foot could be considered as a primary distant focus for vertebral osteomyelitis. Clinicians should consider vertebral osteomyelitis as a ‘possible’ diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by foot infection that is associated with fever and lower back pain.
Learning points
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Vertebral osteomyelitis is increasing in Western countries, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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The primary focus of infection is the genitourinary tract followed by skin, soft tissue, endocarditis, bursitis, septic arthritis, and intravascular access.
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Diabetic foot could be a rare primary focus of infection for vertebral osteomyelitis, and, however, vertebral osteomyelitis could be a serious, albeit rare, complication of diabetic foot.
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Clinicians should keep in mind the many potential complications of diabetic foot ulcerations and consider vertebral osteomyelitis as a “possible” diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes and foot ulcers associated with nonspecific symptoms such as lower back pain.
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Early diagnosis and correct management of vertebral osteomyelitis are crucial to improve clinical outcomes.
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Summary
Bilateral lower limb paraesthesia is a common diabetic neuropathy presentation in any busy diabetic clinics. We present a case of a 28-year-old man with a long history of type 1 diabetes mellitus presented with bilateral paraesthesia of both feet and unsteady gait. The patient was able to feel a 10 g monofilament. The presence of brisk reflexes and upgoing plantars in this patient were pointers that further evaluation was warranted. Further investigations revealed diagnosis of subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord. The patient had rapid symptomatic improvement with i.m. vitamin B12 injection. The high volume of patients attending the outpatients with diabetes and paraesthesia can blind us to other possible diagnoses. This article emphasizes that peripheral neuropathy in a diabetic may be due to aetiologies other than diabetes.
Learning points
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Pernicious anaemia is known to be more common in patients with type 1 diabetes.
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Cobalamin deficiency is reversible if detected early enough and treated by B12 replacement.
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By contrast, diabetic neuropathy is generally a progressive complication of diabetes.
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Peripheral neuropathy in a diabetic may be due to aetiologies other than diabetes.
