Korean J Crit Care Med.  2011 Sep;26(3):181-183. 10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.3.181.

Transient Hypoglycemia-induced Hemiparesis Mimicking Stroke: A Case Report

• Lee SH
• Ryu JH
• Kim YI
• Park MR
• Min MK
• Hwang SM

• KMID: 2228097
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.3.181

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is caused by poor oral intake, excessive exercise, alcohol abuse and inaccurate use of a hypoglycemic agent or insulin in patients that have history of diabetes mellitus (DM), especially in the elderly. Severe hypoglycemia has a variety of different symptoms or signs from focal neurologic deficits to severe coma, or death. It can be difficult to differentiate hypoglycemia-induced symptoms or signs, and stroke or cardiovascular disease in acute setting. Transient hypoglycemic hemiparesis is an infrequent case in the emergency department (ED), which is frequently misdiagnosed for stroke. When patients with decreased mental status or hemiparesis are admitted to the ED, a routine blood sugar test is essential. Hypoglycemic hemiparesis if unrecognized can result in permanent neurological damage. Therefore, it is important to detect hypoglycemia early and treat it appropriately.

Keyword

hemiparesis; hypoglycemia; stroke

MeSH Terms

Aged
Alcoholism
Blood Glucose
Cardiovascular Diseases
Coma
Diabetes Mellitus
Emergencies
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Insulin
Neurologic Manifestations
Paresis
Stroke
Blood Glucose
Insulin