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Euglycemic Ketoacidosis From Semaglutide in a Patient Without Diabetes.

JCEM Case Rep · 2024

Last updated 2026-05-28

A 7-month use of semaglutide for weight loss in a person without diabetes led to euglycemic ketoacidosis, a serious condition involving normal blood sugar levels, metabolic acidosis, and high ketones in the blood. The condition was treated successfully with a bicarbonate-containing dextrose infusion. Only one other case of this condition has been reported with a similar drug (tirzepatide), and none with semaglutide.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalJCEM Case Rep, 2024
Citations13
Relative citation ratio3.30
NIH percentile86
Molecules semaglutide

Abstract

Euglycemic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency characterized by euglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and ketonemia. It is a well-recognized adverse event in patients with diabetes taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. However, little has been reported about euglycemic ketoacidosis using glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide. We present a case of euglycemic ketoacidosis in a young female without diabetes who was taking semaglutide for weight loss for the last 7 months. She was treated with bicarbonate-containing dextrose infusion, which improved the ketoacidosis rapidly. The incidence of euglycemic ketoacidosis will likely increase with the increasing use of GLP-1 inhibitors, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of this life-threatening condition is essential to treat it effectively. Our literature search identified 1 reported case of euglycemic ketoacidosis in a patient without diabetes associated with tirzepatide but none with semaglutide.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 39221223 ↗

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