Several circumstances can trigger seizures. For some people, it’s hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar. It is much more common in people with diabetes, but it can also happen without diabetes. In those cases, hypoglycemia may be caused by critical illness, some medications, drinking alcohol, or weight-loss surgery.

Here’s what you should know about symptoms of hypoglycemia, how to treat it, and ways to prevent and manage hypoglycemic seizures.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

Before hypoglycemia becomes severe enough to cause a seizure, you may notice symptoms related to low blood sugar.

Hypoglycemia may affect:

• Behavior
• Body movements
• Mental status
• Mood (anxiety or irritability)
• Vision

Shakiness, sweating, dizziness, extreme hunger, and confusion are common signs of hypoglycemia.

🗳️ Do blood sugar changes trigger seizures for you or your child?

Yes, low blood sugar can be a seizure trigger.

Yes, very high blood sugar can be a seizure trigger.

Yes, both low and very high blood sugar can be seizure triggers.

No, I haven’t noticed blood sugar levels triggering a seizure.

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Some people have hypoglycemia unawareness. This means they don’t notice the symptoms of low blood sugar.

Even if you don’t notice these symptoms when they’re happening to you, others around you may be aware that something’s wrong.

Hypoglycemic Seizure Symptoms

Symptoms of hypoglycemic seizures are similar to general seizure signs, such as:

• Biting the tongue or clenching the teeth
• Fainting or passing out
• Losing bladder or bowel control

Hypoglycemia can cause seizures in people who don’t have seizure disorders. It’s important to get the right diagnosis and determine whether your seizures are related to epilepsy, hypoglycemia, or both.

Severe hypoglycemia can be life-threatening and, if it lasts too long, may lead to brain damage or coma. But with the right plan in place, hypoglycemia is very treatable.

Mild vs. Severe Hypoglycemia

If your symptoms are mild and you’re awake and able to swallow, you may be able to bring your blood sugar levels up with glucose tablets or sipping a sugary drink (like juice or regular, nondiet soda).

“Not eating led to a hypoglycemic episode that shut me right down. Thankfully, someone gave me some juice.”

— A MyEpilepsyTeam member

However, if hypoglycemia has caused a loss of consciousness or a seizure, it’s not safe to have anything by mouth. Severe hypoglycemia can instead be treated with glucagon given through the nose or as a shot.

Glucagon Treatment

For severe hypoglycemia, glucagon can raise blood sugar quickly. It works by telling the liver to send stored glucose into the bloodstream.

Your friends and family may be able to help if you keep glucagon with you. Teach the people you spend time with how to recognize your hypoglycemia symptoms, how to give your glucagon by injection or nasal spray, and how to provide seizure first aid.

Getting Support

One member of MyEpilepsyTeam wrote, “The more people who understand what’s happening and how to respond, the better. It takes away a lot of unnecessary fear that makes life harder.”

If you lose consciousness because of severe hypoglycemia, someone should give glucagon if it’s available and call 911 right away.

After a severe hypoglycemia episode or hypoglycemic seizure, follow up with your healthcare provider to discuss what happened and whether your treatment plan needs to change.

How To Prevent Hypoglycemic Seizures

If hypoglycemia causes your seizures, your focus should be on preventing hypoglycemia in the first place. Ideally, you’ll want to catch hypoglycemia early and keep the seizure from happening.

Work with your healthcare provider to find the cause of your hypoglycemia, so you can take steps to prevent it.

Manage Your Meds

If you take diabetes medication, especially insulin, make sure you understand how to take it. Take the right dose at the right times, and ask your healthcare provider whether changes in physical activity mean you should adjust your medicine or eat more snacks.

Eat Balanced Meals

Foods high in fiber and fat slow how quickly your body absorbs sugar, so they aren’t the best choice when you need to correct low blood sugar quickly.

“I’m hypoglycemic and have to monitor my food intake throughout the day. If I forget to eat or don’t eat enough, my blood sugar can drop. That puts me at risk of seizuring.”

— A MyEpilepsyTeam member

If your blood sugar is low, juice, regular soda, jelly beans, or honey can raise it more quickly. After treating the low, have a balanced snack or meal with protein and carbohydrates, following your treatment plan.

Stay on Schedule

Eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly are part of a healthy routine. If you take insulin or certain diabetes medicines, be consistent about the amount and timing of your meals or snacks.

Monitor Your Blood Sugar

If you’re prone to hypoglycemia, your care plan may call for regular blood sugar checks. Checking your glucose lets you see whether it is within your target range.

For many people, hypoglycemia happens when blood sugar drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). But your threshold may be different. Your healthcare provider can tell you how and when to check your blood sugar.

“Thankfully, my meds seem to be working and keeping track of my sugar. If it’s too low, I’ll have a seizure.”

— A MyEpilepsyTeam member

Some people benefit from a device called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). A CGM is a wearable device that tracks glucose levels and can alert you when they are high or low.

Learn From the Past

To help figure out whether your seizure was caused by hypoglycemia, your healthcare provider can check your blood sugar after the seizure. Then, you and your provider can piece together what happened.

They may ask questions like:

• How much insulin did you take?
• When did you last eat?
• Did you exercise more than usual?

The events that led to your hypoglycemic seizure can offer clues about what to change or avoid in the future. You can try keeping a journal or using an app that details your exercise, food intake, and blood sugar levels to learn more about your body.

Additional Tips to Stay Safe

A medical alert bracelet can be helpful for people with diabetes or epilepsy. It lets others know about your medical condition if you have an emergency and aren’t able to speak for yourself.

Since hypoglycemia can cause confusion or slurred speech before a seizure, medical alert jewelry can be especially helpful. If you have diabetes, your medical ID can identify that condition and whether you use insulin.

Members of MyEpilepsyTeam have shared how medical alert products give them peace of mind.

“I leave nothing to chance,” said one member. “Even though I can go a couple of years without a seizure, I’m cautious. I have a bracelet, a necklace, and a keyring.”

Carry Your Supplies

People who are at risk of hypoglycemia may need to keep a glucagon kit and sugar on hand. Fast-acting sources of sugar like jelly beans can help reverse hypoglycemia quickly. In severe cases, glucagon is used to raise blood sugar.

If you also have seizures that aren’t caused by hypoglycemia and your healthcare provider has recommended a seizure rescue treatment, keep it available as directed.