Hypoglycemia Forum - seizures from epilepsy or hypoglycemia ?

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Q: seizures from epilepsy or hypoglycemia ?

asked by: divy on June 21st, 2008

New User

I just registered here unsure if I actually have this or not but I was hoping to get some advice from some long term sufferers.

A little background:
I was diagnosed with epilepsy as of just a couple years ago. When I was a kid I would sleep VERY late and wake up tired and confused my pillow would literally be soaked in slob and my sheets in sweat and pee (gross I know but it was uncontrollable). Being a kid I didnt really pay much attention to it but it happened FREQUENTLY like just about every night/morning. One night I woke up early, it was still very dark, my head was spinning, I had peed on myself, I had chills, I was dizzy and SO cold and sweaty, and just physically and mentally DRAINED. I never felt like that before in my life! The next morning, someone witnessed me actually having a seizure and took me into the emergency room. After seeing a few doctors and specialist I was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Question:
I know that low blood sugar could be a definite cause for seizures and I was wondering if the symptoms associated with the seizure I mentioned sounds like it could've been caused by low blood sugar or hypoglycemia?

Replies(5)

Stan

replied on June 25th, 2008

Moderator

I don't know, that's a little too extreme in my opinion. In addition, hypoglycemic symptoms tend to fluctuate. You could get like that, but the next day it would be tiredness or depression.

CarolDiane

replied on June 25th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

I was always under the impression that your eating habits have more to do with it then anything. I was told to eat several small meals or treats a day. My doctor told me that peanut butter was a great treat to stablize you blood suger during the day and a good snack at night. Not sure what else.

VictoriaGB

replied on July 7th, 2008

Supporter

Hypoglycemia can cause seizures, or even coma. But this severity is only likely to be seen in someone who is type 1 diabetic. In a non diabetic, blood sugar would only fall this low if diabetic medication is taken.

I know the symptoms are similar, as they are similar to any number of conditions unfortunately, but this is very unlikely to be hypoglycemia. Especially as you've been diagnosed with epilepsy since a child.

If you do have concerns, it's important that you see your doctor.

moacwasd

replied on November 7th, 2009

New User

my daughter has polycystic ovaries and was put on glucophage for hormone controal not diabetes. She has a hx of seizures but had been seizure free for over 10 years. Approx 2 weeks after she started the glucohage she had a grand mal seizure. I have done a lot of research to see if there is a connection but can not find it in the literature. Has anyone else ever had this experience? What do you think? Coincidence?

sue1234

replied on November 17th, 2009

New User

If you read about an insulinoma, you will see that it can cause high insulin levels that CAN cause blood sugar to drop so far as to make someone have a seizure.

Divy, your deep sleep and hard to wake up, extreme grogginess do actually sound like people who have blood sugar drops in the night/morning. It would be good for you to actually test your b/s levels first thing on waking, and if it's low, go see a good endocrinologist.

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