Precomatosis condition as a factor of violent death in patients with diabetes mellitus: a rare case report

BACKGROUND: Diabetic coma is a common diabetes mellitus complication. The study of carbohydrate status is usually conducted with non-violent death; however, the death of patients with diabetes can occur with various types of violent death. This study aimed to describe and analyze rare expert cases of the circumstances of violent death in patients with diabetes mellitus.

CASE PRESENTATION: This publication presents two cases of the violent death of patients with diabetes mellitus, of which the cause was a precomatous state, which is the beginning of diabetic (hyperglycemic) coma development. The first case was a corpse of a 56-year-old male patient who was found in an apartment in a bathtub with water. The patient died from drowning in freshwater by aspiration. The second case was a 62-year-old male patient who lost control of the car and allowed the vehicle to overturn. The patient died due to a closed craniocerebral injury of the body. In both described cases, the provoking factor was an acute complication of diabetes mellitus in the form of diabetic coma development (precomatosis condition), which was confirmed by the data of a biochemical study of blood, urine, and the vitreous body.

CONCLUSION: One should not forget about the acute complications of diabetes mellitus (diabetic comas) due to its widespread among the population, which can become provoking factors for the onset of violent death. Therefore, conducting a complete laboratory study on patients with diabetes mellitus, even under any circumstances of the case, is recommended.