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Type 1 Blood sugar reading with diabetic seizure

R

Rosea19

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Insulin
My partner has type 1 diabetes and for the past 7 years that we've been together it's been really well controlled with just mild hypos but in the last few months he's had about 6 or 7 seizures at night. He's informed his diabetic nurse who's advised a few changes and they haven't happened for about a month, but last night he was low at midnight so had some toast and then he had a seizure at 2.30am. I took his blood sugar reading immediately after the seizure before I gave him glucose gel and it was 6.1. I thought it would be a lot lower for a seizure to happen, so my question is could the 6.1 reading be related to emergency glucose being released from his liver?

He has another appointment coming up with his diabetic nurse but we're worried in case these aren't diabetic seizures and maybe some form if epilepsy as it seems odd that he has them a few hours after eating carbs and he had done no exercise that day. He's an active 30 years old and has had diabetes since in was 17.
 
Rosea19 said:
My partner has type 1 diabetes and for the past 7 years that we've been together it's been really well controlled with just mild hypos but in the last few months he's had about 6 or 7 seizures at night. He's informed his diabetic nurse who's advised a few changes and they haven't happened for about a month, but last night he was low at midnight so had some toast and then he had a seizure at 2.30am. I took his blood sugar reading immediately after the seizure before I gave him glucose gel and it was 6.1. I thought it would be a lot lower for a seizure to happen, so my question is could the 6.1 reading be related to emergency glucose being released from his liver?

He has another appointment coming up with his diabetic nurse but we're worried in case these aren't diabetic seizures and maybe some form if epilepsy as it seems odd that he has them a few hours after eating carbs and he had done no exercise that day. He's an active 30 years old and has had diabetes since in was 17.
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As this is way out of my experience zone, I wouldn't want to comment too much further than to say I'm sorry you're having these challenges. One thing I do find useful is though, if I test and have a reading I feel can't quite be right, I usually test again, just to make sure. Do you to this?
 
I can understand your worry. Has your partner spoken to their GP about the seizures? (Aswell as his diabetic team) I've used to have seizures from hypos - all at night. For me, I could go to bed with a good blood sugar and still have a seizure. My problem was that the long acting insulin wasn't matching my needs at night and it was impossible to control my blood sugars. I now have a pump and am fine.

My point there is blood sugar can suddenly drop during the night even if you do everything right.However, I'm not sure about the 6.1 you got.

It must be very stressful for your partner and you. If the seizures persist, could you ask for further tests, if only to put your mind at rest?
 
azure said:
I can understand your worry. Has your partner spoken to their GP about the seizures? (Aswell as his diabetic team) I've used to have seizures from hypos - all at night. For me, I could go to bed with a good blood sugar and still have a seizure. My problem was that the long acting insulin wasn't matching my needs at night and it was impossible to control my blood sugars. I now have a pump and am fine.

My point there is blood sugar can suddenly drop during the night even if you do everything right.However, I'm not sure about the 6.1 you got.

It must be very stressful for your partner and you. If the seizures persist, could you ask for further tests, if only to put your mind at rest?
Click to expand...


Glucose gel is fantastic stuff to use. However, if your/partners hands were not clean when the bg test was done, then a bg test might not be that accurate. Also, bg will respond fairly quickly to fast acting glucose gel through the buccal lining as well, so dont worry at this stage, just see how often you find yourself helping your partner and try to get a hospital consultant to give advice on getting a pump.
 
Thanks for your feedback. He hasn't spoken to his GP about it yet but I'm urging him to speak to him asap just to rule out if it's anything else. I think if it happens again I'll also take two readings before I give him the glucose just to check they're accurate. He also discussed a pump with his nurse but I don't think he's that keen on it at the moment due to the amount of sport he does.

It's pretty stressful as it happens when he seems to do everything right and the seizures knock him for six for few days, I'm hopeful we'll get to the bottom of it soon though.
 
For peace of mind you need to rule out if its diabetes related or something else like epilepsy @Rosea19, do get him to see his gp asap and also get back in touch with his DSN/Consultant and explain what's happening.

Hope it all goes well.
 
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