
May 13, 2004
Other
Question from Bardstown, Kentucky, USA:
I have a two year old son who began have idiopathic seizures in early April 2004. We were hospitalized in a local Children Hospital for two days. They performed numerous blood, urine, CT scan and EEGs with all normal results. The neurologist didn’t diagnose him with epilepsy, however, they believe that they came from some sort of breath holding spells. Our son had laboratory work done on April 5, after seven hours of his second seizure with only water in his system and a few fries from Wendy’s. His blood sugar level was 112 mg/dl [6.2 mmol/L]. After that, we have had to try and watch his sugar levels because our son was a child who loved sweets and would eat them all day, if we would allow. I have since put him on sugar free drinks and other snacks and limited his daily intake. However, just when you think you have a answer, something else happens. This past weekend we had another seizure at Wal-Mart, with no aura to it happening. After the seizure stopped, I took him home and he was very shaky still after coming out of the post ictal state. I took his blood sugar level after 20 minutes of the seizure and it was 56 mg/dl [3.1 mmol/L]. Nobody seems to be alarmed by these levels and I truly believe that juvenile or some sort of diabetes could be the cause. My father and grandmother, who have both passed away, had type 1 diabetes and it is predominate on my husband’s side of the family also. Can you please provide us any help?
Answer:
A normal blood sugar is typically 65 to 110 mg/dl [3.6 to 6.1 mmol/L]. Children can have seizures sugars that are markedly below normal. I would discuss this, and your concerns, in detail, with your pediatrician until your concerns have been addressed to your satisfaction.
MSB