THU027 Challenges In The Management Of Extreme Hyperglycemia In An Acromegalic Patient
Authors: Sonbol Mark , Novitskaya Maria , Monye Joseph , Jafri Sabih , Japp Emily 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: M. Sonbol: None. M. Novitskaya: None. J. Monye: None. S. Jafri: None. E. Japp: None.

Introduction: Hyperglycemia in acromegalic patients presents a unique challenge given the disruption GH has on glucose homeostasis. Chronic hypersecretion of GH causes severe insulin resistance which can progress to uncontrolled DM. We describe a patient with acromegaly requiring &gt;180 units/day of insulin in the perioperative period while awaiting transsphenoidal surgery. Clinical Case: A 49-year-old female with HTN and recent diagnosis of uncontrolled type 2 DM presented with several months of blurry vision and headaches. She had several prior admissions for hyperglycemia and DKA (with normal C-peptide, and negative GAD-65 and islet cell autoantibodies) despite compliance with insulin therapy. Her HbA1c was 12.2% on 2 units/kg TDD of insulin. Imaging was significant for a sellar/suprasellar solid mass with cystic components measuring 8.3 x 6.3 x 7.8 cm encasing bilateral internal carotid arteries, encroaching the left orbital apex, and applying mass effect on bilateral frontal lobes, and right temporal lobe and midbrain. Labwork was significant for IGF-1 1083 ng/mL (n&lt;238), and GH of 96.4 ng/mL (n&lt;8). FSH and LH were suppressed, with otherwise normal pituitary hormone levels. Interestingly, the patient did not exhibit classic clinical features of acromegaly such as macroglossia, enlarged digits or coarse facial features. Transsphenoidal biopsy demonstrated mature PIT-1 lineage NET with expression of GH and PRL. Given the significant tumor mass effect, she was placed on dexamethasone 4 mg q12h. Preoperatively, her blood glucose worsened and reached 500 mg/dL despite &gt;180 units of insulin/day on a subcutaneous insulin regimen. Glycemic management was escalated with addition of regular insulin gtt up to 25 units/hr to achieve target blood glucose of 140-180 mg/dL. After successful surgical resection of the tumor, HbA1c decreased to 7.7% on 1.3 units/kg TDD of insulin, metformin and empagliflozin at eight weeks postoperatively. Clinical Lessons: Unusual presentations of rapidly increasing insulin requirements in newly diagnosed DM should raise clinical suspicion for secondary causes such as acromegaly. The degree of insulin resistance is often out of proportion to the patient’s body habitus given the GH-mediated lipodystrophy and adipose tissue dysfunction. In this case, the patient’s insulin requirement was 2 units/kg TDD of insulin, with her BMI being only 22.14 kg/m2. Given the need for semi-urgent surgery due to the tumor’s mass effect, SSA therapy or GH-receptor antagonist was not initiated, and insulin therapy was the mainstay for preoperative glucose management. In severe cases of acromegaly-related hyperglycemia, subcutaneous insulin alone may not be sufficient for adequate glucose control, especially in the setting of preoperative steroids, and large doses of IV insulin may be needed to reach inpatient glucose goals.

Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023