A woman's co-workers thought she was drunk on the job, but it turns out she had a rare tumor affecting her blood sugar.
Rosemary McGinn from Rockland County N.Y. was diagnosed with hypoglycemia two years before her tumor was discovered, Medicine Matters reported.
"When my sugar would suddenly crash, it was like I was drunk. I would become very combative, not knowing what I was saying, and sway back and forth," McGinn said.
The 54-year old realtor's co-workers thought she had an alcohol problem, until a tumor was found in her pancreas which was causing her blood sugar levels to drop, ABC News reported.
Around Easter of 2011 McGinn's co-workers sent her home because they thought she was intoxicated. She spoke with a client later that night but forgot where and when they had agreed to meet as soon as she hung up the phone.
Her memory problems didn't end there, McGinn was driving with her husband when she suddenly forgot who the president was and what years she was in.
Normal blood sugar is between 70 and 140 milligrams per deciliter, McGinn's had dropped to below 25 milligrams.
Most people get "drunken" symptoms when their sugars hit 60 milligrams per deciliter, McGinn should have passed out during her episodes, but didn't because her body was so used to the frequent dips in sugar.
Her insulin (the hormone that reduces blood sugar and allows it to be converted into useful fuel) levels were normal, which mystified medical examiners.
For over a year the realtor kept candy and juice on her at all times in case she had an episode, causing her to put on almost 25 pounds.
McGinn's blood sugar started to drop even when she ate the sweet snacks. Her husband remembers not being able to get in touch with her via cell phone, and calling the front desk of her workplace.
Her co-workers would tell him McGinn was in her own world, even though she was awake and sitting at her desk.
I'd be having 3,000 different conversations with myself. It was scary," McGinn said. "I thought there's no way in hell I could live like this."
McGinn was finally diagnosed with insulinoma by Dr. Ronald Tamer of Mount Sinai Diabetes Center, Medicine Matters reported.
Insulinoma is a pancreatic tumor that causes insulin to be produced even when blood sugar has dropped to dangerous levels.
McGinn was cured after a 90-minute surgery, and three day long recovery.
"Dr. DiMaio and Dr. Inabnet are my surgical saviors. I was in the hospital for a few days before surgery and they stopped by at least twice a day and kept me informed the whole time," McGinn said. "And now I'm back to living my normal life."
Mcginn's condition could help others suffering from similar conditions in the future. Tissue from the rare tumor will be kept in Mount Sinai's Tissue Bank for further study of insulin-producing mechanisms.
