Status Epilepticus

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Okay guys maybe I am just stupid but I can't seem to figure this out. Why does a patient who suffers from a status epilepticus have a hypoglycemia during a seizure. I know we are supposed to monitor glucose levels during this but can't figure it out. Sorry I am studying for my pharmacology final and was stumped by this. I probably don't need to know for the final but now I am curious.

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or is it the hypoglycemia that is precipitating the seizures? My only other hypothesis is that maybe that during a seizure your body goes into flight or fight and your body starts using up all the glucose for energy? Sorry I get upset when I don't know the answer to things haha

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Specializes in Emergency.

Low blood sugar can precipitate a seizure. I don't think I've ever heard of seizures causing hypoglycemia, though.

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While hypoglycemia is more commonly a cause of seizures, prolonged seizures can cause hypoglycemia.

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While hypoglycemia is more commonly a cause of seizures, prolonged seizures can cause hypoglycemia.

so is this cause because your body is using up all the glucose during the prolonged seizure? Because don't SE seizures last for a prolong time like 20 minutes?

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Specializes in Emergency.

If someone is seizing for 20 minutes, I wouldn't expect them to be alive. You will see patients start to go blue from hypoxia when they have seizures.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
If someone is seizing for 20 minutes, I wouldn't expect them to be alive. You will see patients start to go blue from hypoxia when they have seizures.
Not true....There are situations where patients have prolonged seizures. They can last an extended period of time which IS the hallmark of status epilepticus
Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. SE is defined as a continuous seizure lasting more than 30 min, or two or more seizures without full recovery of consciousness between any of them.
OP here is a great resource about SE....and YES the constant seizure activity does eat up sugar. Status Epilepticus | Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library
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If someone is seizing for 20 minutes, I wouldn't expect them to be alive. You will see patients start to go blue from hypoxia when they have seizures.

Idk Ive seen people have them that long while working at my externship. Plus we usually immediately clear the airway and give oxygen.

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Not true....There are situations where patients have prolonged seizures. They can last an extended period of time which IS the hallmark of status epilepticus OP here is a great resource about SE....and YES the constant seizure activity does eat up sugar. Status Epilepticus | Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library

Thank you!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You are very welcome!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Prolonged seizure activity can cause hypoglycemia and I have seen a case of hypokalemia. This patient had seized for over an hour and her potassium dropped from around 4.5 to 3.3. (Some may have been dilutional from fluids too). Think about exercise and activity - uses glucose and all that muscle contraction requires potassium.

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Think: Why do they give extra potassium with glucose and insulin? Because driving glucose into cells with insulin take a lot of potassium with it. That works whether or not your insulin comes from your pancreas or a bottle.

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