Methamphetamine-Induced Hypoglycemia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

We present a rare case of a 34-year-old male patient with a history of schizophrenia who was found to be persistently hypoglycemic after a positive toxicology screen for methamphetamine. The patient has had multiple admissions to the hospital for persistent hypoglycemia and was then transferred to our in-patient behavioral health unit (BHU). At this time, his toxicology screen was negative for methamphetamines. During his stay in the BHU, he was compliant with his psychiatric medications and was euglycemic despite having a poor appetite until he was discharged home. This patient was shortly readmitted to the hospital and found to be severely hypoglycemic and methamphetamine positive. Here, we present this rare case of methamphetamine-induced hypoglycemia. We emphasize our work-up, treatment, and our suggested theory of why methamphetamines are the likely cause of hypoglycemia.

Keywords: hirata; hypoglycemia; insulin; methamphetamine; methamphetamine induced hypoglycemia.