Yonsei Med J.  2013 Sep;54(5):1289-1292. 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.5.1289.

Spurious Elevation of Glucose Concentration during Administration of High Dose of Ascorbic Acid in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes on Hemodialysis

• Kim SK
• Hahm JR
• Kim HS
• Kim S
• Jung TS
• Jung JH
• Lee HR
• Kim DR

• KMID: 1793182
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2013.54.5.1289

Abstract

We describe herein a case of life-threatening hypoglycemia due to spurious elevation of glucose concentration during the administration of ascorbic acid in a type 2 diabetic patient. A 31-year-old female was admitted for proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment and prescribed high dose ascorbic acid. During hospitalization, she suddenly lost her consciousness and her glucose concentration was 291 mg/dL, measured using self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) device, while venous blood glucose concentration was 12 mg/dL. After intravenous injection of 50% glucose solution, the patient became alert. We reasoned that glucose measurement by SMBG device was interfered by ascorbic acid. Physicians should be aware of this interference; high dose ascorbic acid may cause spurious elevation of glucose concentration when measuring with SMBG devices.

Keyword

Self-monitoring of blood glucose; ascorbic acid; hypoglycemia

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage/adverse effects/contraindications/*therapeutic use
Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring/instrumentation/standards
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/drug therapy
Female
Humans
Hypoglycemia/*diagnosis
Renal Dialysis
Ascorbic Acid
Blood Glucose

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