Diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated by thyrotoxicosis

We report two patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, previously well contr olled with good compliance, presenting with unexplained diabetic ketoacidos is. Following initial correction of the metabolic disorder, persisting tach ycardia lead to the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. In both cases, treatment w ith propranolol and carbimazole helped in the stabilization of their metabo lic states. Although thyrotoxicosis is known to destabilise diabetes contro l, we can find no reports of it precipitating diabetic ketoacidosis.