Hypocalcemia in a 15 Year Old With New Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis and significant hyperglycemia are associated with known electrolyte derangements in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism occurring in uncontrolled diabetes are rare. We present a case of new-onset diabetes with severe hypocalcemia. Case: A 15-year-old obese Caucasian male with ADHD and autism presented to the Emergency room due to hyperglycemia found on laboratory evaluation for hypertension. Serum glucose was 563 mg/dL, serum bicarbonate 24 meq/L (21 - 31 meq/L), and HgbA1C 11.4% (4.0 - 5.6%). He was admitted to initiate insulin and for diabetes education. On admission, hypocalcemia was noted: serum calcium 6.6 mg/dL (8.5 - 10.5 mg/dL), alkaline phosphatase 352 units/L (48 - 277 units/L), and albumin 4.6 g/dL (3.5 - 5.0 g/dL). Repeat testing revealed serum calcium 5.1 mg/dL, phosphorus 4.3 mg/dL (2.5 - 4.5 mg/dL), and magnesium 1.7 mg/dL (1.6 - 2.9 mg/dL). He endorsed a 2 month history of tetany, paresthesia, and muscle weakness. Due to food aversions, his dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D was minimal. He had limited sun exposure. Subsequent PTH was 40 pg/mL (10 - 65 pg/mL) with concurrent serum calcium of 6.5 mg/dL. QTc was prolonged [529 msec ( Conclusion: This teen presented with new-onset type 2 diabetes and symptomatic hypocalcemia, an atypical feature of new-onset diabetes. This patient’s hypocalcemia was likely due to both vitamin D deficiency and hypoparathyroidism. He had a low vitamin D level and poor calcium intake with elevated alkaline phosphatase; however, his high normal serum phosphorus and inappropriately normal PTH (instead of elevated in the setting of severe hypocalcemia) indicated a component of hypoparathyroidism. Calcium normalized with detectable 25-OH Vitamin D levels but PTH remained low. Our case highlights the importance of recognizing both that electrolyte abnormalities at diabetes onset may not be directly attributable to diabetes/hyperglycemia and that vitamin D deficiency and hypoparathyroidism may co-exist.