LOW BLOOD SUGAR CAN MIMIC EPILEPSY

Low blood glucose (below 70 mg/dL or 3.9mmol/L) or hypoglycemia can manifest in many confusing ways, like epileptic fit, stroke, or coma.

- DR P.S. VENKATESH RAO

Common early symptoms include trembling (tremor), sweating, fatigue, hunger, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and light-headedness (feeling faint).

Lower blood sugar presents with fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, irritability, blurred vision, slurred speech, and difficulty concentrating. In severe cases (below 50mg/dL or 2.8mmol/L), epileptic fit like seizures, stroke like weakness or paralysis of part or half of the body or loss of consciousness can occur as the brain is heavily dependent on a continuous supply of glucose, as it cannot store glucose, its primary energy source.

Some individuals may not experience signs of low blood sugar; hence, it may not be recognized and treated, leading to grave consequences.

A normal fasting glucose level is 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5mmol/L). Levels of 100 to 125mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9mmol/L) are considered prediabetes, and levels of 126mg/dL (7mmol/L) (Hyperglycemia) or higher on two separate tests indicate diabetes have up to a 50% chance of developing Type 2 (late-onset) diabetes over 5 to 10 years, but can reverse to a normal state by changes in lifestyle, eating habits, and diet control. Blood glucose levels are 200 mg/dL (11.1mmol/L) or higher in Type 1 (early onset) diabetes.

HYPOGLYCEMIA: Low blood sugar is often associated with too much diabetes medication or too little or untimely food intake.