A case of hypoglycemic hemiparesis and literature review

Ups J Med Sci. 2012 Aug;117(3):347-51. doi: 10.3109/03009734.2011.652748. Epub 2012 Jan 17.

Abstract

An 89-year-old man with diabetes treated with metformin 500 mg/day and glimepiride 4 mg/day was hospitalized because of hypoglycemic right hemiparesis and dysarthria (casual glucose value 1.8 mmol/L), which resolved quickly following administration of 40 mL of 40% dextrose. Hemiparesis is a rare symptom (4.2%) of hypoglycemia. There are about 200 case reports of hypoglycemic hemiparesis. The average glucose level at which hemiparesis developed was 1.8 mmol/L. Right-sided hemiparesis predominated (R 66%; L 34%). On imaging studies, abnormal findings were frequently observed in the internal capsule or splenium of the corpus callosum. The mechanism of hemiparesis is not fully understood. The existence of cases in which hypoglycemia cannot be distinguished from stroke on imaging studies suggests the importance of measurement of the blood glucose level when the symptoms of stroke are first recognized.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / complications*
  • Male
  • Metformin / administration & dosage
  • Metformin / therapeutic use
  • Paresis / diagnosis*
  • Paresis / etiology
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds
  • glimepiride
  • Metformin