Atypical Neurological Presentation in a Patient with Uncontrolled Diabetes

Abstract

Chorea is a disorder characterized by irregular and involuntary hyperkinetic movements associated with malfunctioning the basal ganglia. One of the rarest acquired causes of unilateral or bilateral chorea is hyperglycemia. This is a case of an elderly female diabetic who presented With 3 days history of unilateral involuntary movements of the upper limb and lower limb, irrelevant talk, and altered sensorium. She had a random blood glucose level of 418 mg/dl with hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) of 15% and normal ketones. Magnetic resonance imaging brain demonstrated T1 hyperintense and T2 flair hypointense right basal ganglia. Diagnosis of nonketotic hyperglycemic chorea was considered. The patient was treated with insulin, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines and the chorea resolved after proper control of glucose levels. This condition can be reversible with early identification and treatment. This disorder can be prevented with good glycemic control.