HYPEROSMOLAR NONKETOTIC DIABETIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION WITH DIDANOSINE

OBJECTIVE - To determine whether didanosine (DDI), one of the drugs commonly used to treat infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), contributes to the development of diabetes and hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic syndrome (HNKDS). CASE SUMMARY - One female patient was treated with DDI for infection with HIV during pregnancy. Soon after starting DDI treatment, she developed diabetes, which progressed to HNKDS. CONCLUSIONS - Although not reported in the literature, hyperglycemia following treatment with DDI has been noted in 82 patients and is usually associated with pancreatitis. DDI should be recognized as one of the drugs known to potentially cause diabetes and HNKDS. With the increasing use of DDI and other drugs that cause hyperglycemia, such as pentamidine and dapsone, blood glucose should be monitored frequently in the HIV-infected patients.