Case report: Transient global amnesia in a type I diabetic patient

Abstract

Objective: To describe a 20-year-old patient with a 10-year history of Type 1 diabetes who suffered from neurological consequences, including reversible amnesia, following a presumed episode of hypoglycemia. Methods: We present a case report and the findings of applicable literature to identify the incidence of acute neurological effects of hypoglycemic events to determine an explanation for reversible amnesia and neuroimages following an episode of extremely low blood glucose. Results: Following the presumed hypoglycemic event, our patient presented with limited recall of the past 24 hours, including no memory of the last 12 hours. His brain MRI showed hyperintensities within the hippocampi bilaterally. By his 4-month follow up, he no longer had memory problems and his MRI showed resolution of hippocampal lesions. Systematic review of literature revealed that hypoglycemic events result in cognitive deficits and memory loss. There have been previous reports of neurological consequences following a documented hypoglycemic coma, but we report a patient that suffered transient amnesia following a severe, unidentifiable hypoglycemic episode that can only be presumed. Conclusion: The severity and duration of the hypoglycemic event may play a role in the neurological consequences and long-term outcomes. This patient, in conjunction with previous literature, emphasizes the importance of glucose control due to the severity of neurological dysfunction following episodes of hypoglycemia. Keywords: Reversible amnesia, Severe hypoglycemic event, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Magnetic resonance imaging