People experiencing a diabetic seizure will be unable to treat their own symptoms — they will probably lack the presence of mind to understand their situation, or the body control to fix it. Therefore, it is just as important for friends and family to be familiar with these symptoms.
- Muscles that twitch, jerk, or convulse
- Loss of consciousness
- Limbs that go limp or stiff
- Drooling or staring
- Clenched teeth
During a diabetic seizure, you may become unconscious, fall, or have convulsions that cause muscles to contract involuntarily, making the body move and jerk out of control. Convulsions can be mild or severe. You may also appear to be in a trance or unable to respond, with eyes blinking rapidly or staring into space, before slipping into unconsciousness.
These symptoms require immediate emergency medical care.
For most people with diabetes there will be prior warning signs as blood sugar levels drop towards unsafe levels. Everyone with diabetes should be intimately familiar with the symptoms of (moderate) hypoglycemia, including the following:
- Shakiness
- Sweating, chills, and clamminess
- Irritability or impatience
- Rapid or fast heartbeat
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Hunger and nausea
- Sleepiness or weakness
- Blurred or impaired vision
- Tingling or numbness in the lips or tongue
Diabetic seizures can be prevented by noticing some of the above symptoms and reacting appropriately. As long as the person experiencing low blood sugar can still safely eat and drink, treating the condition is often very easy. Fast-acting carbohydrates, like the sugar found in candy or soda, can bring blood sugar back up into a safe range.
