How common is seizure in hypoglycaemia?

When blood glucose falls too low, the nervous system may first cause sweating, shakiness, hunger, irritability, confusion or unusual behaviour. If the level continues to fall, brain activity can become disrupted and a seizure may occur. This symptom describes how hypoglycaemia can present; a seizure has many other possible causes, so the event still needs medical assessment.

A person having a seizure may lose awareness, stiffen, jerk or become difficult to wake. Do not put food, drink or medicine in their mouth while they are not fully alert. If diabetes treatment or another medicine may have contributed, keep the packaging available for the clinician.

Protect the person from nearby hazards, cushion their head and loosen tight clothing around the neck. Turn them onto their side when possible, stay with them and note when the movements start and stop. Do not restrain them or place anything between their teeth.

If they are awake and able to swallow safely, follow their personal low-glucose plan. Once fully recovered, they may need a longer-lasting snack according to that plan. If they are unconscious, cannot swallow or do not recover promptly, use prescribed emergency treatment if trained and call emergency services.

Call emergency services for a first seizure, a seizure that continues, repeated seizures, an injury, breathing difficulty, pregnancy, or failure to regain normal awareness. Urgent assessment is also needed when the cause of the low glucose is unclear or symptoms return after initial treatment.

Ask what glucose level or symptoms should trigger your action plan, whether medicines or missed meals could be involved, and whether you need a prescribed rescue treatment. Ask how to record episodes and whether you need tests to look for another cause of seizure.