Based on hypoglycemia and high body condition score, which two differential diagnoses were listed?

• A. Sepsis; insulin overdose
• B. Addison's disease; poisoning
• C. Hypoglycemia; dehydration
• D. Cancer; infection

Answer: (A)

Hypoglycemia can arise from either too much insulin (or insulin effect) or from processes that dramatically increase glucose use or impair glucose production during systemic illness. When you also note a high body condition score, it points toward a scenario where an insulin-related cause is possible (such as insulin overdose in a diabetic patient) alongside a systemic illness that could drive glucose utilization. Sepsis fits well because in critically ill patients sepsis can cause hypoglycemia through increased metabolic demand and impaired hepatic glucose production. Pairing these two possibilities—sepsis and insulin overdose—best explains the finding of low blood glucose together with obesity.

The other options don’t align as cleanly with both features. Addison’s disease can cause hypoglycemia but obesity isn’t a typical clue; dehydration or cancer with infection doesn’t specifically account for hypoglycemia in the context of a high body condition score.