Diabetic Seizures – What Are They? Symptoms, Causes & Treatments - Sweet Clinics

A seizure can be quite serious and can be a scary experience for not just the person experiencing it but for the people around. While seizures are caused due to many reasons, one of the prime reasons for a seizure to occur is when people have epilepsy. Amongst the different types of seizures, diabetic seizures can sometimes turn into an emergency quite quickly. Proven to be fatal in nature, a diabetic seizure is a serious medical condition which is caused due to extremely low levels of blood sugar.

 On National Epilepsy Day, we tell you everything about diabetic seizures, their symptoms, causes and treatments.

Diabetic Seizure: All you need to know
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that occurs due to an electrical storm in the brain. Mostly, people who have recurrent or repetitive seizures can experience loss of consciousness, abnormal behaviour, disruption of senses, or all of the above. Though most causes of epilepsy are not known, studies have indicated that they can occur or trigger due to loud noises, rigorous physical stimulation, or even small as flickering light, loud noises, or physical stimulation.

 There is no relationship between epilepsy and diabetes, or the research is still not able to prove. Therefore, anybody that has a seizure must test to find the exact cause.

 A diabetic seizure occurs when the sugar levels in the blood are extremely low (below 30 mg/dL). The brain needs glucose to function properly. When there is a drop in the blood sugar, the actions of the neurons in the brain decrease and the person experiences a seizure.

 Please note high blood sugar can also cause seizure activity in the brain. Extremely high blood sugar levels in the brain can cause hyperexcitability of the neurons, thus leading to a short circuit in the brain and seizure. While this is quite uncommon, it is equally dangerous.

What are the causes?
There are multiple causes for a diabetic seizure to occur. It can happen due to too much insulin being injected, or because not having regular meals, or even not eating right after an insulin shot. Sometimes, drinking too much alcohol too can cause a drop in the blood sugar, thus leading to seizure. Here are the common things that can cause a drop in the blood sugar levels and lead to a seizure:

– Due to insulin shock, or insulin reaction

– Not eating the right meals

– Too much intake of alcohol as it lowers liver glucose production

– Rigorous exercise

 Symptoms of Diabetic Seizures

When entering the first stages of seizure, the person may show some of the following signs:

– Sweating

– Confusion

– Drowsiness

– Bodily shakes

– Rapid and unexpected emotional changes

– Weakness in the muscles

– Anxiety

– Changes in vision

– Loss of ability to speak clearly



A diabetic seizure happens when blood sugar is low, and the person can experience the following symptoms: 

– Uncontrollable body movements

– Unconsciousness

– Staring into space



While at night, if a person experiences a diabetic seizure, a person may wake up with the following symptoms: 

– Confusion

– Severe headache

– Sweating


Prevention of Diabetic Seizures
The best way to prevent a diabetic seizure is by having proper control of your blood sugar levels. Here are ways to avoid or prevent low blood sugar seizures:

– Do not skip or take big gaps in between meals. A steady intake of food is necessary as it helps in maintaining the sugar levels

– Take your medications on time and ensure you inject the right amount of insulin

– If you wish to consume alcohol, make sure you eat something along with it. Moreover, limit the consumption as much as possible

– Exercising is good for your sugar levels. However, excessive activity can drop your sugar levels. Keep a snack with you all the time and check your sugar before bedtime.

– Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and eat when you notice a drop in your blood sugar levels

Treatment of Diabetic Seizures
One of the essential things to do when a person experiences diabetic seizure is to provide immediate treatment to him/her. However, in the process, there are two factors to be considered:

– Prevent any form of injury

– Get enough glucose in the body

 During the early stages, when the seizure has not occurred, but you notice the symptoms, it is best to manage by giving at least 15 grams of fast glucose and recheck the blood in the next 10 minutes. You can provide:

– Glucose tablets

– Juices

– Snacks such as crackers or bars

 Please ensure the person can swallow food items before you offer them, otherwise, it might choke them.

 However, if the person’s sugar levels are dropped extremely, then you must follow the guidelines:

– Get medical help

– Help the person to the floor and make enough space near the person

– Make sure you track things such as how long did the seizure last, how was the person acting before, how did the body move

– Ensure you stay with them until proper help arrives

– Do not give them anything to eat unless they are completely awake

– Loosen the clothes around the neck and waist

– Check for any injuries

 One of the easiest ways to treat diabetic seizures is to not let it occur in the first place. This can be done with regular monitoring of blood sugar levels. Moreover, a person living with diabetes must always carry glucose tablets or any source of sugar handy at all times. best diabetologist in Navi Mumbai  If at all you or someone near you experience the symptoms, simply providing the source can bring back the sugar levels to normal. Another way to prevent emergencies is by wearing an emergency bracelet or a card that others can see, become aware of the condition and are able to help.

 While all the above are short-term solutions, it is important to accept that diabetes has no cure, and it is progressive in nature. Therefore, it is your responsibility to manage your condition. On National Epilepsy Day, we remind you to make sure to discuss the possibility of diabetic seizures with your doctor.

Do you know your diabetes targets...?

Do you know your diabetes targets?

Dealing with diabetes can get overwhelming at times. You have to keep your blood sugar within a certain range, maintain a particular weight, monitor blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels and a lot more. Yet most of us aren’t even aware of the targets that we must be at. We keep striving to reach a goal without even knowing what the accurate goal is. Knowing the range we must be at for all these is essential for effectively treating diabetes. Also, diabetics need to constantly monitor certain levels on a daily basis. Since the doctor is not available daily, it is imperative to know what targets we must be at for good health.

Keep in mind that diabetes is a condition which requires a customised treatment per case. So even though you may be aware of a normal range of levels, the doctor may want you to maintain a more specific target. There are several factors that can influence blood sugar levels and thus need to be monitored regularly. Thus, knowing the specific targets that keep your blood glucose levels in the normal range is crucial for good diabetic control.

Factors that influence blood sugar and recommended targets

There are several factors that can impact blood sugar levels and need to be monitored carefully. The levels included here are the normal range that is considered healthy. However, you should talk to your doctor for advice on more specific targets that should be maintained.

Blood sugar levels

This is the number one focus for all diabetics! Keeping blood sugar levels within the normal range at all times is crucial for good health.

Fasting levels: Taken early morning before a meal, the fasting blood test reveal the effectiveness of medicines in controlling sugar at night. The healthy range is 80-110 mg/dl while a level between 111-125 mg/dl is considered borderline. However, anything over 125 is not healthy and needs correction.

Post meal:This test is done 2 hours after eating to judge how blood sugar levels react to the food being consumed. A target between 120-140 mg/dl is considered healthy with levels below 200 considered fair in some cases. Anything over 200 is a cause for concern and may require changes in the diet plan or medication.

HbA1c test: This is the most trusted vale for diabetics. Also known as Glycated haemoglobin, this level indicates the blood sugar levels over a span of three months. It is considered to be most reliable as it accounts for unexpected fluctuations in glucose levels. In healthy people, HbA1c level is less than 6%. Studies suggest that complication can be prevented or delayed if Hb1c levels are maintained below 7 %

HbA1c level of 8 % or above indicates that better control of blood sugar level is required.

Blood pressure

Blood pressure levels should ideally be 130/80 mm/Hg. Elevated levels at 140/90 is considered borderline high, with anything higher than that requiring food and lifestyle changes.

Lipid Profile

Measuring the levels of good and bad cholesterol levels for diabetes is essential as they not only impact blood sugar levels but can also warn of serious illnesses. Heart problems, hypertension, liver damage etc. can be diagnosed early by monitoring these levels. The ideal values should be:

HDL-cholesterol (Good cholesterol): This number should be higher than 60mg/dl for healthy heart function and not lower than 40 mg/dl at any time.

LDL-cholesterol (Bad cholesterol): Ideally, LDL levels should not exceed 100 mg/dl. However, in otherwise healthy adults a value up to 129 is also accepted. A value of 130 or more outs one at increased risk for chronic ailments.

Total cholesterol: A good judge of overall cholesterol health, total cholesterol values should of under 200mg/dl is considered ideal.

Triglycerides: This level should be maintained at under 150mg/dl while some doctors may accept a value up to 200, anything higher than that is a concern.Best diabetologist in vashi

Body Mass Index

Obesity is a leading cause for diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight can help one keep their sugar levels in control. While a weighing scale gives you an idea if you are overweight, Body mass Index (BMI) is preferred as it accounts for total body fat. A BMI value of 20-23 is considered best though up to 25 is accepted, higher than 25 puts one at an increased risk for chronic ailments such as heart disease, hypertension etc.

Waist Hip Ratio

Did you know that your body shape can also have a bearing on diabetes? People with higher fat concentrated around their waist (apple shaped bodies) are said to be more at risk for diabetes and other chronic ailments as compared to people with more fat concentrated around their hips (pear shaped).

So we see there are several factors that can have an impact in keeping diabetes under control. Talk to your doctor and find out what your targets are so that you can focus on achieving them.

DIABETES AND DEPRESSION – A CRY FOR HELP

“The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of hell, and a hell of heaven”.

“Let’s talk”, launched on April 7th, 2017, with a spotlight on depression, seems to be a fitting theme on World Health Day. According to WHO statistics, nearly 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide and it is also the leading cause of disability. Those suffering from any chronic illnesses such as kidney and heart disease, lupus, HIV/AIDS, and, of course, diabetes, are more prone to depression.

Depression is twice as common in people with diabetes. The problem is bifacial; those with diabetes are at increased risk of developing depression, due to its chronic nature and subsequent complications, while those who are depressed are at risk of getting diabetes. The predominance of poor lifestyle decisions, unhealthy food habits, smoking and alcohol, less physical activity, and weight gain when one is depressed, are all risk factors for diabetes.
The rise in incidences of depression could be due to the pressures of modern living, materialism, a competitive environment, occupational and family demands. Physical and mental health are closely interlinked which is why diabetes and depression can be a double whammy. Depression can be attributed to many factors, such as genetic, brain biochemistry, stressful life events, trauma, and strained interpersonal relationships, apart from chronic stress.
Diabetes and depression can be likened to two sides of a coin, wherein there is a biological and behavioural link. On the one hand, the over-activation of stress hormones, such as cortisol and ACTH can aggravate sugar levels. On the other side of the coin, lack of self-care, which is invariable when one is depressed, can lead to poor health outcomes. Some individuals may get overwhelmed with the challenges of managing diabetes on a daily basis, which can lead to depression.

What is depression and what are the risk factors?

It is normal to feel grief at the loss of a loved one, or show emotional reactivity to some distressing situation, but when it takes longer than usual to return to normal, look out for warning signs. If it has been at least 2 months since a major life event has occurred, or if there has not been any such major life event but one is experiencing several of these symptoms, it may be DEPRESSION:-

Feeling sad or empty most of the time for at least two weeks.
Diminished interest or pleasure in the usual activities.
Crying spells without reason.
Low self-esteem or feelings of guilt.
Difficulty in sleeping or excessive sleepiness throughout the day.
Poor appetite or eating excessively.
Unusual fatigue and loss of energy.
Difficulty concentrating on normal activities.
Feeling agitated, lethargic or slow.
Weight gain or weight loss, without any effort.
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideas.
If these symptoms are generally making one feel dysfunctional by coming in the way of social and personal relationships and hindering one’s responsibilities at work, one could be depressed.

Risk factors for depression include:
Family history of depression
Abuse, either physical, sexual or emotional
Death or loss of a loved one
Conflict due to interpersonal relationships, outside or within the family
Major life events such as marriage, losing one’s job, divorce, relocating, etc.
Certain medications taken for other conditions may trigger depression.
Apart from these, studies have shown that women and older people are more vulnerable and likely to get depressed.
Those with diabetes should be screened for depression regularly, as it can largely go undetected. Hence, appropriate detection and early intervention will help resolve complex health problems. In the larger picture, self-management and good control of diabetes could decrease the risk of depressive symptoms and complications.
Despite so much progress and awareness regarding treatment of depression, prognosis continues to be poor, perhaps due to the following reasons:

Stigma regarding ‘mental illnesses’
Feelings of worthlessness and failure that prevents one from acknowledging that one is depressed.
Financial constraints that act as a barrier to effective treatment.
Negative perceptions about side effects of anti-depressants.
Management of depression:
Management of depression and diabetes should be a collaborative effort which involves the following aspects:
Professional help.
A combination of cognitive behavior therapy and medication has been found to be effective in combating depression.
Social support from family, friends and support groups help in lessening feelings of isolation.
Proper adherence to the diabetes regimen in the form of healthy diet, regular medication and physical exercise.
Regular assessments by the concerned physician as well as mental health professionals have the twin benefits of alleviating feelings of depression as well as controlling sugars.

Apart from all these, involving oneself in pleasurable activities and following a structured lifestyle will be greatly beneficial for those who are going through ‘low’ phases. However, despite one’s best efforts, sometimes it’s easy to be weighed down by lethargy and low energy levels due to diabetes and depression. So do set realistic goals for yourself, take small steps, stay motivated, and do not give up! As Margaret Thatcher put it, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”