Effect of keto-acidosis on seizure occurrence in diabetic patients

It has been observed anecdotally that diabetics are usually non-ketotic at the time of their seizure presentation. In order to establish some validity on this observation, we reviewed the medical records of patients with diagnoses of diabetes and seizure. Study subjects were diabetics presenting with seizures. Control subjects were random sampling of all diabetics. In 51 diabetics presenting with seizures, 38 were nonketotic and 13 were ketotic. In the control group of 119 diabetics, 63 were non-ketotic and 56 were ketotic. There were no significant differences in the serum levels of glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium between the seizure and control groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that non-ketotic patients were at risk for developing seizures with an odds ratio of 4.03 (p=0.001). Male sex and type 1 diabetes were also risk factors while age was not a risk factor. Keto-acidosis may play a role in preventing epileptic seizures from occurring in diabetic patients.