Type 1 Diabetic Children Show Symptoms of SUGAR SHOCK!

Note from Connie: Although this SUGAR SHOCK! Blog often focuses on topics related to type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, new research out of Australia suggests that type 1 diabetic children could also suffer behavioral symptoms of SUGAR SHOCK!, according to a story by Michelle Rizzo from Reuters Health. Karen James fills you in.

After studying 42 five- to 10-year-olds with type 1 diabetes, researchers at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia discovered that when the children had elevated blood sugars levels, they exhibited behaviors such as aggression, delinquency and hyperactivity.

The scientists sought to determine if there was any truth to anecdotal stories from parents of type 1 diabetic children. The parents report that they know when their children's blood sugar levels were elevated, because their kids started acting out.

"It has always been important to try and normalize blood glucose levels for long-term health," Dr. Fergus J. Cameron told  Reuters Health.

"In addition to this it now appears that it is also important to normalize blood glucose levels to optimize behavior.

"Externalizing behaviors in children such as aggression, hyperactivity, disruptiveness, etc., can impact upon family quality of life and the classroom environment," said Dr. Cameron, whose findings were published in Diabetes Care.

What's interesting, Dr. Cameron notes, is that their research, he says, "has implications both for parents and teachers of primary school-aged children with diabetes."

By the way, Connie discusses the sugar-behavior connection in her book SUGAR SHOCK!

Karen James for the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog