Today, everyone talks about sugar. They are worried about how much sugar one consumes, high sugar levels, and their impact on one’s health in multiple ways. This worry extends to their children, too. Did you know hypoglycemia is also possible in children, and it is, in fact, more dangerous than consuming a little extra sugar on a particular day?
Everyone is more familiar with hyperglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels are too high ( in normal person with fasting blood glucose values of more than 125 mg/ dl ) because the body cannot process all the sugar one consumes. For some people, including children, the sugar levels can suddenly dip and become too low for normal functioning.
Hypoglycemia is not unheard of but is less common than hyperglycemia. Many people tend to brush it off as just tiredness or fatigue, but it is more than just a fatigue.
Hypoglycemia is a condition when the blood sugar levels are too low. The minimum sugar level is around 70mg/dL for children. A child with type 1 diabetes or hypoglycemia can have a much lower sugar level, which is not very safe.
Hypoglycemia in children can be a side effect of type 1 diabetes or any other health issues. The blood sugar levels dip when too much insulin is in the body. Though hypoglycemia is a health issue by itself, it is mostly due to diabetes in children.
● Genetic disorder
● The problem persistent since birth
● Too much insulin medication by way of injections or tablets
● The wrong type of insulin was administered
● Blood glucose reading could be wrong, resulting in the wrong insulin dosage
● A missed or delayed meal
● Too little food or too much exercise
● Constant vomiting or diarrhoea (not enough food in the body for the insulin to act upon)
● Other health issues causing sugar fluctuations
● Strenuous exercise for a long time
● Not eating anything for a long time
● Certain medications can cause glucose levels to dip
● Medications or diseases that cause a spike in insulin in the body
● Tumour in the pancreas that interferes with insulin production
● Feeling dizzy or light-headed
● body shakiness that is out of control
● Feeling hungry
● Looking pale
● Headaches
● Mood swings or irritability – crying easily, tantrums, loud voice, etc.
● Unable to focus or pay attention
● Seizures or jerky movements
● Feels tingly around the mouth
● Nightmares or disturbed sleep
● Feeling confused after waking up from sleep
Most of these low blood sugar symptoms in kids are very similar to over-tiredness.
Remember, the body needs sugar to fuel all its activities. When insufficient sugar is in the blood, the energy produced is inadequate, and the child feels tired. So, tiredness is also a symptom of hypoglycemia.
When your child feels very tired or lethargic all the time, you are bound to consult a doctor and convey all your concerns. A doctor will do the following to confirm a diagnosis:
● Ask questions about the child’s lifestyle, food habits and activities
● Enquire about family health history
● Take more than one blood test to check sugar levels at different times
● Take tests to measure other hormones as well
● Check how the symptoms change once the child eats or drinks something
● Test insulin action
In some cases, if the blood sugar levels are too low or fluctuate easily, the doctor might want to keep your child overnight at the hospital for close monitoring. During this time, your child will be on a controlled diet to see how their glucose levels react to food and drinks.
The treatment for hypoglycemia, like any other treatment, will vary from child to child depending on how severe it is, the age of the child, and a few other conditions. The goal of the treatment will be to stabilise the blood glucose levels. The treatment will be as follows:
● Check sugar levels at regular intervals or fixed timings after recognising the pattern or ranges
● Give food and drinks at regular intervals
● Recognising symptoms of low sugar levels
● Giving sugar or food high in sugar when glucose levels dip
If your child or a child you know is suffering from hypoglycemia, you can respond and show your support in the following ways:
1. Don’t compare your child’s growth or physical activities with other children. A sudden dip in sugar levels can make your child very tired and discourage them from playing like others
2. If your child complains of any symptoms, be quick to react and help bring up their sugar levels
3. Ensure your child always carries some sugary treats to consume in case of low-sugar
4. Let your child’s teachers and caregivers know about their condition and how to react in case of a low glucose episode
5. Ensure your child has emergency contact numbers on them at all times
6. Teach your child to recognise the symptoms and what to do when they have one
7. Focus on their diet. Ensure they follow a balanced diet and eat at regular intervals. You may have to increase the carb content in some meals to help the sugar levels stay up.
8. Be empathetic when your child has a meltdown due to regular tiredness, low glucose levels, hospital visits, or inability to play with their peers. It can be very tough on a child when they can’t be one.
9. Don’t expect your child to be very mature and responsible about the condition. They are still children and can’t cooperate or react like adults. Yes, the situation is scary, but remember they are still children.
10. Opt for counselling. Health issues in children can be very draining on parents, and counselling can help you understand and handle the situation better.
11. Join support groups where you can find other parents going through similar situations. Having someone you can relate to can make a big difference to the way you feel about it all.
12. Accept the fact that, as a parent, it is not your fault, and you have no control over your child’s condition. Be gentle with yourself, as this is very tough on you, too.
Hypoglycemia in children can often be mistaken for chronic fatigue or just laziness. Recognising the symptoms and getting timely help for the condition can help your child navigate the entire situation without it heavily impacting their growth or mental health.
● When a child is diagnosed with hypoglycemia, it can be tough for the parents. Start learning to recognise the symptoms and always keep some sugary treats in your child’s bag in case of emergencies. Ensure they keep eating at regular intervals to prevent a glucose dip.
● Yes, hypoglycemia is a condition by itself and can affect even those children who are not diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
● Teach your child to recognise the symptoms and how to handle them. Teach them to reach out for help and inform the adults around them when they are having a low-sugar episode. Tell them repeatedly that it is not their fault, that they can still play around like their peers, and that they need not compromise on anything.
