Comparison of two suicide attempts with long-acting insulin – The rare way to commit suicide

Abstract

Introduction. In previous years, the number of suicide attempts has increased in Europe. Intoxication with hypoglycemic drugs, including insulin is a rare a tool for attempting suicide that may lead to a severe patient status. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the severity of insulin poisoning with examples of two patients. Methods. The analysis of clinical history of patients and review of available literature. Results. A 22-year-old patient was hospitalized in the Department of Toxicology and Cardiology due to a suicide attempt in the way of insulin poisoning; time of poisoning was unknown, and the level of glucose was indeterminable. The patient was treated with intensive specific pharmacotherapy. After hospitalization, which lasted 5 months, the patient’s condition had been stabilized but with no verbal contact and quadriplegic paralysis. Another patient was a 41-year-old woman hospitalized two times in the Department of Toxicology and Cardiology due to the insulin poisonings. In each case of hospitalization of this woman, severe recurrent hypoglycemia was observed up to 25 mg% until the fifth day of hospitalization and the treatment used improved the patient’s condition and there was no development of serious complications. Conclusion. Normally effective treatment at the right time can recover the patient completely.