Octreotide in children with hypoglycaemia due to sulfonylurea ingestion

Sulfonylureas are commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, overdose or accidental ingestion may result in profound and prolonged hypoglycaemia with permanent neurological sequelae and death. We describe two cases of children with hypoglycaemia due to presumed accidental ingestion of sulfonylureas, where traditional methods of raising blood sugar levels were unsatisfactory. Two studies describe Octreotide for adults with hypoglycaemia, but there are no studies examining the use of Octreotide in children for this indication. Given that Octreotide has been shown to be safe in children when used for other indications, we used Octreotide to safely restore euglycaemia. © 2008 The Authors.