LABILE DIABETES: ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STATUS AND EFFECT OF ANTICONVULSIVE THERAPY

Abstract

Seven adults with labile diabetes and no history of epilepsy were studied. One was found to have a normal and 6 abnormal or borderline EEC tracings. The EEG abnormalities were not related to diabetes per se nor to the hypoglycemic effect of insulin. The possibility of a genetic or constitutional factor responsible for these abnormalities was considered. Two types of reactions were noted: a) hypoglycemic, responding to admn. of sugar or food, and b) pseudohypoglycemic, occurring with normal or high glycemia and refractory to carbohydrate admn. Behavior disorders in labile diabetes may arise from lability of this condition and difficulty of its management as well as from the electrocerebral dysfunction. Anticonvulsive drugs were used successfully in 3 patients. They resulted in reduction in frequency and severity of reactions, stabilization of diabetes, lowering of insulin requirement and a remarkable psychologic improvement. In 2 of the treated patients the EEG returned to normal. It is concluded that electrocortical dysfunction accounts for a number of reactions in labile diabetes with EEG abnormalities and the beneficial effect of anticonvulsants in this condition is stressed.