SGLT2i Improves Glycemic Control in Patients With Congenital Severe Insulin Resistance

Pediatrics. 2022 Jul 1;150(1):e2021055671. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-055671.

Abstract

Insulin-resistant diabetes in Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is relatively unresponsive to first-line antidiabetic treatments, including metformin and insulin. We report 2 patients with RMS treated with 2 different sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors 2: empagliflozin in an 11-year-old boy and dapagliflozin in a 12-year-old girl. In the first patient, we began empagliflozin at 2.5 mg/day and increased the dose to 10 mg/day over 3 months. During treatment with empagliflozin, the amount of time during which the patient maintained serum glucose in the 70 to 180 mg/dL target range increased by 2 hours per day. Hemoglobin A1C dropped from >14% to 11.9%, urinary calcium increased almost twofold, and β-hydroxybutyrate remained <2.5 mmol/L. Because glycemic control did not further improve with dose escalation, we reverted to the 2.5 mg/day dose. We initiated dapagliflozin in a second patient at 5 mg/day and witnessed a reduction of hemoglobin A1C from 8.5% to 6.2% after 6 months and a mild increase in urinary excretion of phosphorus but not calcium. Insulin levels fell by >50%. In 2 patients with RMS, empagliflozin and dapagliflozin were well tolerated and improved glycemic control without significantly increasing ketonemia. Renal calcium excretion should be carefully monitored.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds / adverse effects
  • Benzhydryl Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Blood Glucose
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Glycemic Control
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Male
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors