Is it true that hypoglycemia can also trigger seizures? There are many inducing factors for epilepsy, and the incentives of different patients are also different. Having a basic understanding of their own incentives can not only effectively prevent and reduce seizures, but also be able to achieve early prevention and timely care during seizures. This is why everyone is concerned about the “new” epilepsy trigger – hypoglycemia.
So, among the many causes of epilepsy, is hypoglycemia on the list? Let’s listen to what the experts of Taiyuan Epilepsy Hospital have to say.
Whether hypoglycemia actually induces epilepsy, the mechanism is not yet clear. But glucose has the function of providing energy for the brain, because the brain tissue has almost no glucose reserve function, so glucose is almost the main energy source of the brain. From this principle, the seizures of epilepsy are more or less related to glucose.
If the body’s glucose continues to be insufficient, the brain’s energy supply will be insufficient, causing the brain’s metabolism to malfunction. Some data show that when the blood sugar of the human body drops to 1 mmoL/L, it is likely to cause necrosis of brain neurons or damage to the membrane potential of brain cells. The seizures of epilepsy are caused by abnormal firing of neurons in the brain, so it can be analyzed that hypoglycemia is likely to induce epilepsy.
In addition, hypoglycemia can also cause fainting or convulsions, but convulsions and epilepsy caused by hypoglycemia are completely different, and everyone needs to be clearly separated. When blood sugar is at a very low level, the symptoms of the seizure are very similar to those of an epileptic seizure, with convulsions, stiffness of the limbs, and loss of consciousness. The seizures are mostly early in the morning or at night. Unlike epilepsy, when hypoglycemia occurs, it is accompanied by other symptoms such as palpitation, sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, and increased blood pressure. Seizures do not have these symptoms and blood sugar levels are normal.
Taiyuan Epilepsy Hospital doctors remind: Whether hypoglycemia or seizures, may cause damage to the patient’s nervous system. Therefore, when patients have symptoms of hypoglycemia convulsions or epileptic seizures, they should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time to avoid more serious damage to the body.