Citation

Beardwood JTJ. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 1934; 102(10): 765-766.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1934, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.1934.62750100002009a

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The average diabetic patient is a well behaved member of society seldom given to acts of violence or attempts to inflict injury on himself or others. Indeed, aside from the tendency to deceive his physician in regard to his cooperation, he is apt to be an exemplary citizen. A careful search of the literature for the past ten years has revealed no case in which such a massive dose of insulin was taken and only one case1 in which insulin was taken with suicidal intent; and in this case only 20 units was taken. This was but 12 units more than the patient had taken as a daily dose to control his diabetes. He promptly repented of his deed and took sugar within fifteen or twenty minutes and did not suffer any reaction.Hypoglycemia may produce death, and even mild degrees of depression of the level of the blood