Utility of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Management of a Suicide Attempt in a Patient With Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes and Major Depressive Disorder

Cureus. 2026 Apr 14;18(4):e107040. doi: 10.7759/cureus.107040. eCollection 2026 Apr.

ABSTRACT

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent chronic disease. In patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders, insulin may become a means of suicide due to its potentially lethal effects when overdosed. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have proven effective for glycemic control, but their role in suicide prevention is less explored. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, borderline personality disorder, and major depressive disorder, who attempted suicide by injecting 90 units of lispro insulin and ingesting 12 tablets of lorazepam. The patient’s daughter, monitoring her mother’s glucose levels via CGM, detected a sudden hypoglycemic drop and intervened promptly, preventing a fatal outcome. The patient was treated in the emergency department with intravenous dextrose and supportive care, was later admitted to the ICU, and followed by psychiatric evaluation and pharmacological adjustments. Her psychiatric treatment plan was modified to reduce central nervous system depressants and reinforce outpatient psychiatric follow-up. At a one-month follow-up, the patient reported clinical improvement, denied suicidal ideation, and remained under psychiatric care. This case underscores the utility of CGM not only for glycemic control but also as an emergency detection tool in high-risk psychiatric patients, emphasizing the value of integrating digital health with psychiatric monitoring and family support.

PMID:42147622 | PMC:PMC13173590 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.107040