[Fitzcarraldo]

Matsumura M, Nakashima A, Tofuku Y. Electrolyte disorders following massive insulin overdose in a patient with type 2 diabetes. Intern Med. 2000;39(1):55-57.

[Archon of the East]

And consider the falling glucose levels to virtually zero if glucose is not given with the insulin as would be required if treating for hyperkalemia. I do believe you then have a rather bad situation.

[MarMema]

Intern Med. 2000 Jan;39(1):55-7. Related Articles, Links

Electrolyte disorders following massive insulin overdose in a patient with type 2 diabetes.

Matsumura M, Nakashima A, Tofuku Y.

Department of Internal Medicine, Ishikawa-ken Saiseikai Kanazawa Hospital, Ishikawa.

We present a case of a 47-year-old man with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who attempted suicide with 2,100 U of insulin injected subcutaneously. Administration of dextrose intravenously was required to maintain the blood glucose concentration normally for 5 days. Moreover, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia were also seen for 24 hours after insulin injection. The serum phosphorus and magnesium concentrations decreased to nadirs of 1.6 mg/dl and 1.6 mg/dl respectively 7 hours after insulin injection. Electrolyte disorders other than hypokalemia may be induced in hypoglycemic patients by massive insulin overdose.