Background: Herbal medicines are readily available and commonly perceived to be relatively harmless. Butcher's Broom is used in various medicinal preparations and contains substances having α-adrenergic-stimulating properties.
Objective: Our aim was to report a case of toxicity associated with Butcher's Broom in a diabetic patient.
Case report: A 39-year-old woman developed diabetic ketoacidosis 5 days after beginning therapy with Butcher's Broom for mild ankle swelling. Her diabetic ketoacidosis was complicated by hyperkalemia and acidosis with a pH of 7.02. After management with intravenous fluid, insulin, and calcium gluconate, her condition stabilized and she was discharged several days later.
Conclusions: This case represents a small but potentially serious public health concern in a diabetic woman taking Butcher's Broom.
Keywords: Butcher's Broom; diabetes mellitus; diabetic ketoacidosis; herbal medicines.
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