Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic that is a dopamine-serotonin antagonist wherein it blocks the action of these neurotransmitters to exert its antipsychotic effect. Olanzapine, along with other atypical antipsychotics albeit in a lesser degree, is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus in such patients. It was hypothesized that serotonin antagonism may decrease the function of the pancreatic beta cells which secrete insulin. In this case, the nurse should suspect the development of diabetes mellitus because of (1) Olanzapine intake and (2) classic DM symptoms such as polydipsia and polyuria.
