Nocturnal hypoglycaemia presenting as somnambulism

Excerpt

To the Editor: Somnambulism (sleepwalking) is defined as a parasomnia of non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep during which movement behaviours that normally only occur in the awake state occur during sleep. Somnambulism is mainly a disease of childhood, but it can occur in adults and may be precipitated by environmental factors such as change in sleep schedule (jet lag) or emotional stress [1]. Use of hypnotics, particularly zolpidem, sedatives, narcoleptics or alcohol can also cause somnambulism. Pathologies such as fever, cardiac arrhythmias, epileptic seizures, asthma, obstructive sleep apnoea and psychiatric conditions have also been reported to precipitate somnambulism [2]. …