| Severe hypoglycemia poses the greatest challenge to glycemic control in diabetic patients, especially children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Although in vivo animal models exist for investigating the effects of hypoglycemia, few studies examine repeated hypoglycemia and none investigate within the context of a juvenile animal model. The main objective of this thesis was to examine electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioral abnormalities manifesting as a result of repeated hypoglycemia in juvenile diabetic and non-diabetic mouse models. Using a novel implantation technique, the hippocampal and cortical EEG were recorded during repeated insulin-induced hypoglycemia. It was discovered that repeated hypoglycemia exacerbated behavioral convulsion severity and promoted epileptiform EEG activity within the hippocampus and cortex of both diabetic and non-diabetic animals. Furthermore, sustained hypoglycemia caused a significant decrease in hippocampal EEG activity in diabetic animals compared with non-diabetics. These results suggest recurrent hypoglycemia may promote and worsen seizures associated with hypoglycemia in diabetic children. |
