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Will Taking Lumbar Puncture Reduces Drowsiness Due To Diabetes?
Dr, my mother59 year old was admitted to hospital with high diabetes and convulsions in lower limb. S
Diabetes became normal in two days and she was treated with valproate injection and encorate Injection for two days and subsequently changed to tablets cloba on 3 and 4th day. On 5' 6' 7 day she was completely drowsy and dr advised her ammonia levels are higher and treated. Ammonia levels became normal on 6 day. However her drowsiness is persisting and today is 11th day and in the last 3 days slow improvements are seen. Dr advises now to take lumbar puncture, her ct, MRI, twice taken had no severe problems, except or very little fluid in the brain. This doctor advises that it may not have a major impact. Her EEG taken now shows mild slowing, and too he says it is not worrying. Pls advise whether her drowsiness will fade away or lumbarpunc is essential
Diabetes became normal in two days and she was treated with valproate injection and encorate Injection for two days and subsequently changed to tablets cloba on 3 and 4th day. On 5' 6' 7 day she was completely drowsy and dr advised her ammonia levels are higher and treated. Ammonia levels became normal on 6 day. However her drowsiness is persisting and today is 11th day and in the last 3 days slow improvements are seen. Dr advises now to take lumbar puncture, her ct, MRI, twice taken had no severe problems, except or very little fluid in the brain. This doctor advises that it may not have a major impact. Her EEG taken now shows mild slowing, and too he says it is not worrying. Pls advise whether her drowsiness will fade away or lumbarpunc is essential
posted on
Sat, 1 Feb 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 1 Feb 2014
Answered on
Sat, 1 Feb 2014
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Lumbar puncture is not done to reduce drowsiness. It is a diagnostic test and is done to collect the cerebrospinal fluid which is then tested for the presence of different infections and other diseases. Her drowsiness may be due to electrolyte abnormalities which are common in uncontrolled diabetes. Once these are corrected, it takes a few days for the brain to return to its previous state. Doing a lumbar puncture is not a treatment but an investigation. Please discuss in detail with her doctor before taking any decision.
Best wishes.
Lumbar puncture is not done to reduce drowsiness. It is a diagnostic test and is done to collect the cerebrospinal fluid which is then tested for the presence of different infections and other diseases. Her drowsiness may be due to electrolyte abnormalities which are common in uncontrolled diabetes. Once these are corrected, it takes a few days for the brain to return to its previous state. Doing a lumbar puncture is not a treatment but an investigation. Please discuss in detail with her doctor before taking any decision.
Best wishes.
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