Is it epilepsy or diabetes-related hypoglycemia?
Observation of the pattern and characteristics of the seizures, an electroencephalogram, (EEG) and CT scans, can aide in the diagnosis. Nocturnal epilepsy amplifies the difficulty of diagnosis because seizures that occur at night are less likely to be witnessed than daytime seizures. Some case studies in the literature show patients who presented with a tonic-clonic seizure associated with hypoglycemia were mistakenly diagnosed with epilepsy. If you are taking a medication that causes the pancreas to release more insulin (like Glucotrol, Amaryl, Prandin, Glipizide, to name a few) or if you are taking insulin injections, it is imperative to discern whether you are having low glucose levels during the night while sleeping as this could be the cause of your seizures. A continuous glucose monitoring system, a pager-sized device typically worn for 2-3 days that continually measures glucose, can determine if you are going too low. Discuss this option with your doctor. How is epilepsy treated
