Diabetic striatopathy associated with type 2 diabetes: A rare complication

Abstract

Diabetic hemichorea/hemiballism is a spectrum of hyper kinetic involuntary, non patterned, continuous movements involving one side of the body. It involves contra lateral basal ganglia and often striatum in the brain. Here we are reporting an unusual case of choreiform movement disorder which was sudden in onset. It was accompanied with abnormally high values of blood glucose. Our patient had a complete remission of symptoms after an adequate control of blood glucose was achieved. This case illustrates the importance and rarity of having the knowledge about hyper glycemia as a rare cause of hemichorea as it recovers rapidly with a good prognosis. Screening for hyperglycemia even in those patients without a prior history of diabetes is very important, once they present with an involuntary movement disorder. Recognition and early treatment is beneficial to prevent adverse outcomes. Today, in the medical literature it is often referred to as CHBG (chorea, hyperglycemia, basal ganglia) syndrome.