Metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus at the onset of primary adrenal insufficiency

Abstract

Primary adrenal insufficiency is a rare disorder but it is more common in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or autoimmune thyroid diseases than in the general population. T1DM may precede the development of adrenocortical insufficiency. Addison’s disease can influence the glycemic control in patients with T1DM worsening glucose metabolism. It causes the decrease of gluconeogenesis, reduction in total insulin requirement and rather often «unexplained» recurrent hypoglycemia. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency and T1DM increases the insulin requirement. The article presents the development of primary adrenal insufficiency in a patient with type 1 DM and autoimmune hypothyroidism, accompanied with incidents of recurrent hypoglycemia.