[CNS symptoms caused by hypoglycemia: frequent misdiagnosis: "stroke". Pitfall of the neuroglycopenia syndrome].

Hypoglycemia may occur without classic symptoms, especially in elderly patients hypoglycemia may imitate nearly every neurological symptom. The neuroglycopenic syndrome, which is often due to sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia, is frequently overlooked or misinterpreted as cerebral ischemia. Therefore in every case of disturbance of consciousness, acute neurologic deficits and psychiatric abnormalities an immediate blood glucose test should be performed to exclude hypoglycemia.