Type 1 and seizures

[Jonathan_R]

As some of you know by now, I have seizures. I have had seizures off and on since I was 12 (1982). They have never diagnosed me with epilepsy, in fact the cause has always been a mystery.

Since I have been diagnosed as type 1, I have noticed an increase in seizures. One I can honestly attribute to low blood sugar. I bottomed out at 33, and the paramedics told my wife and daughter that I'd go into a diabetic comma and die. However, a couple months later I had another seizure and my blood sugar was in the 90's. I also had this most recent one where my sugar was 86. It seems to me, that when my sugars are more in the normal range, I am far more prone to seizures.

Does anyone have any insight on this? I am trying to google this, but so far not finding anything real helpful.

If you want, or need more information, just ask. I do also realize that probably no one here is a doctor, and that the advise given is only from personal experience. Still, I welcome all input.

The last time I saw a neurologist, was in the late 80's, right after I had a seizure. While in the hospital he asked me a strange question. Well, I thought it strange. He asked me if I was sick. Ill. I said no, not that I know of. Why? To which he replied, "Your white blood cell count is elevated by 33%. Which usually means your body is fighting something."

Before all this, I felt like a pulmonologist. I can literally go toe to toe with most pulmonologists. Now, I gotta bone up on endocrinology and neurology. :eek:

[xMenace]

I do know that high fat, low carb diets can significantly reduce the number of seizures in epileptics:
MODIFIED ATKINS DIET CAN CUT EPILEPTIC SEIZURES IN ADULTS (http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press_releases/2008/01_28_08.html)

low carb diets and seisures - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=low+carb+diets+and+seisures&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1)

[Jonathan_R]

I thank you. You seem to have hit the nail on the head. From what you gave me, I was able to find this; Young epileptic adults also suffer a greatly increased risk of having type 1 diabetes, according to the results of a study published in the Annals of Neurology. The incidence occurs amongst patients suffering from generalised epilepsies of an unknown origin, also known as ‘idiopathic’ epilepsies.

The idiopathic cases account for approximately 30 per cent of all epilepsy patients, according to doctors from the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery based in Liverpool in England.

The doctors also highlighted the fact that diabetes and generalised epilepsies are similar in their medical influence, because of the enormous problems that they represent, and the high cost of medical treatment and social management.

The study comprised a group of 518 young adults with epilepsy, and examined incidences of type 1 diabetes. A second study group from the general population was also examined, containing 150,000 subjects.

Idiopathic epilepsy was shown to have a greater incidence amongst the type 1 diabetic population than the greater population. Meanings inferred from the results could be interpreted in several ways. Diabetes could be partly responsible for idiopathic generalised epilepsy, or the two conditions could have different ages of onset. Diabetes epilepsy link (http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2006/Jan/Diabetes-epilepsy-link.html)

Which looking back at my childhood, I was always told I had to little fat. I had about 3% body fat. Now that I live in almost a constant state of Ketoacidosis, I am improperly burning fat, and leaving acid behind (called ketones). This lack of ketones, seems to be triggering my seizures. So a Ketogenic diet seems to be the right thing. Low in carbs, so good for the diabetes side. High in fat, so it would regenerate the ketones.

[Tribbles]

It's probably worth looking at neurocardiogenic syncope. Basically your body screws up it's stress response and instead of constricting the arteries in a classic fight/flight response it expands them. As a consequence the blood pools in your legs, your blood pressure goes through the floor, not enough blood reaches the brain, and you pass out briefly with seizures. There is an adrenaline dump which leads to a feeling not unlike a bad low without the shakes.

This is easy to diagnose with a tilt table test. The thing about it is that it is triggered by situations (needles, flying, blood,...) and I don't see why low blood sugar wouldn't trigger it if it worries you. The down side is that it largely untreatable, you just have to avoid trigger situations as far as possible.

[Jonathan_R]

That's certainly interesting, and possibly worth looking into. I don't think it'd reveal much on me, because since I was a military brat, I flew a lot. I have also, because of my asthma, had lots of needles. Back in the day, they used to treat asthma with epinephrine and susphrine shots. I have a high tolerance to pain. But it is still worth looking into.

[Tribbles]

The thing is the trigger is psychological, a potential trigger could be the fear of a hypo so as perceived symptoms appear the syncope response takes over. You don't even need to be having a low, you just need to think you are. Since this syncope triggers an adrenaline dump in response to the dropping blood pressure the symptoms actually are very similar.

The trigger can be anything, blood and needles are the most common.