Doctors kept Cook County Board President John Stroger in the hospital overnight for observation after he became disoriented Tuesday during a board meeting, apparently after suffering a reaction to his diabetes medication.
Stroger, 73, was in good condition Tuesday night at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was rushed from the County Building.
“He was fine after the paramedics gave him a shot to level off his blood sugar,” said his son, Ald. Todd Stroger (8th), who added that his father will likely be released from Northwestern on Wednesday after follow-up tests.
John Stroger has known for “at least a couple of years” that he is a diabetic, his son said.
A statement from Stroger’s office said an initial assessment by doctors determined that the County Board president “may have had a reaction to medication he is taking to control his diabetes.”
Commissioners who were present in the boardroom said a disoriented Stroger told paramedics that he may have taken too much medication.
More Top Picks Best Hair Clippers For Men
Word that the spell was likely diabetes-related came as a relief to Stroger’s family, staff and fellow commissioners. Stroger underwent quadruple-bypass heart surgery in April 2001 but in recent months has appeared to have regained his strength.
Stroger this month was re-elected to a third term as president. He has served as a commissioner since 1970.
The swearing-in for his new term will be Dec. 2.
With a light agenda, commissioners had expected a quick board meeting so they could head to a farewell luncheon honoring five of their colleagues who lost re-election bids.
Stroger typically runs board meetings, but as Tuesday’s session neared an end he appeared to become confused and repeated himself. The room grew quiet as several commissioners urged Commissioner Ted Lechowicz, the board’s president pro-tem, to relieve Stroger on the dais.
Spectators were ordered to leave the room, and Stroger was immediately treated by county doctors Cynthia Henderson, Aaron Hamm and Brad Langer, who were at the meeting to answer any questions related to health-care matters posed by commissioners.
Stroger never lost consciousness, spokeswoman Caryn Stancik said.
After Stroger was taken to the hospital, the meeting resumed and the remaining commissioners approved a contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that raises pay for 6,000 county workers by about 8.5 percent over three years.