On November 13, news from Hoan My Cuu Long Hospital said the hospital had successfully treated a patient with diabetes mellitus complicated by lactic acidosis and critical multiple organ failure due to self-medication.
Patient N.T.L (66 years old, Binh Minh town, Vinh Long province) has a history of type 2 diabetes with intermittent treatment for 20 years, high blood pressure, drug-induced Cushing's syndrome, and has used herbal medicine and traditional medicine for treatment on his own.
Through examination and necessary paraclinical tests, doctors diagnosed the patient with impaired perception, diabetes mellitus, lactic acidosis, multiple organ failure, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (a form of acute coronary syndrome, characterized by increased cardiac enzymes in the blood and no elevation of the ST segment on the electrocardiogram), acute kidney injury, pneumonia, drug-induced Cushing's syndrome, and gastritis.
Immediately afterwards, the patient was consulted at level 2 and quickly transferred to the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department for active treatment, fluid replacement according to the protocol, blood sugar control with insulin via an electric syringe, bicarbonate replacement, general condition improvement, and hourly monitoring of blood sugar, urine, and electrolytes.
After 4 days of intensive treatment, the patient was alert, no longer vomiting, able to eat and drink, liver and kidney function, and blood sugar gradually stabilized and was transferred to the inpatient department for further treatment. The patient was discharged after 7 days of inpatient treatment and followed up for regular check-ups according to the doctor's schedule.
Dr. Thach Thi Phola - Deputy Head of the Cardiology Department (in charge of the Endocrinology Department), Hoan My Cuu Long Hospital - said that the case of a patient with lactic acidosis during diabetes treatment is a rare complication, but if it occurs, it is very serious and can cause death. Fortunately, the patient's family took him to the hospital early and provided timely emergency care. If there was a delay, the patient may have had to undergo continuous dialysis or his life would have been in danger.
Dr. Phola advises that diabetes is a common chronic disease. Adhering to your doctor's treatment regimen is very important to closely control your condition.
Diabetic patients should absolutely not believe in advertisements for drugs of unknown origin, abandoning treatment, causing serious complications and possibly lactic acidosis and critical multi-organ failure.
