Hypoglycemic seizure

[spindoc88]

I am a Type II diabetic (diagnosed 10 years ago) on metformin (1,000 mg. daily) and prandin (2 mg with meals). I have been diagnosed with a heart problem and have been exercising regularly as part of cardiac rehab. I have been experiencing frequent sugar lows, resulting in blurred vision and dizzyness. Last week, I awoke in the hospital after having diabetic seizures. I remember feeling weak and taking some glucose tablets. Apparently these weren't enough to ward off the seizure. I am worried about future seizures. Specifically, I am wondering if the seizures might aggravate my heart condition. I have a fully blocked coronary artery. I am also worried about possible brain damage. Should I continue with my exercise? How can I prevent future seizures, given that blood sugar monitoring has not helped tip me off to these sudden drops in blood sugar. I have been told not to drive for six months. Are there other activities I should curtail? How common is it for these seizures to recur? I have eliminated the prandin but remain on metformin. Any info would be appreciated.

[JDRF-Team-gg]

Dear spindoc88,

I am so sorry to hear of your recent hospitalization due to a hypoglycemic seizure.  This is a great fear of many diabetics and their families.  I know this because my daughter experienced one 14 years ago, during the first year after her diagnosis at 21 months of age.  She has not experienced any seizures since that time.  Any information I pass on to you is based on my own personal experience and knowledge of diabetes, as I am not a medical professional.  That being said, I want to recommend that you seek out an endocrinologist (a physician who specializes in diabetes)to get the dosage of your diabetes medications straightened out.  They should hook you up with a diabetes educator and a dietician who will help you get things back on track.  There needs to be a balance of diet, exercise and medications when dealing with diabetes.  Your cardiac rehab is serving a purpose and you don't want to forget about that.  Your diabetes should not get in the way of your progress.  Frequent lows need to be dealt with by adjusting your meds and eating the right amount of carbs & proteins and frequent monitoring of your blood sugars.
Keep up the good work, don't let fear stop you from obtaining better health and take control of your diabetes!

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

I'm another volunteer here.

I want to echo what GG wrote and to mention that exercise & diabetes meds do the same job:  they normally help lower our BG.  Thus, when we begin pursuing regular exercise, in consultation with our diabetes specialist, they will alert us as to how to adjust meds and/or foods to avoid lows.

Many type 2's find it preferable to be able to manage BG with "diet & exercise" (never an option for us Type 1s), and the process usually entails gradually increasing activity levels while lowering meds **under the careful guidance** of a diabetes specialist or diabetes exercise specialist.

The tough part about oral meds is that once the pill is taken, the action starts and cannot be stopped.  That's why it's so important to work with your doc so you fully understand how & when your different meds are working.  

Your experiences are scary.  Exercise, in consultation with your medical team, can be one of the most important aspects of not only cardiac rehab, but also your diabetes management, and overall health.  Good luck.  None of this is easy at first.