Low blood glucose levels on blood tests is something I have seen from time to time in children on the autism spectrum. Glucose is a source of fuel, in the form of a simple sugar, that our bodies and brains need to function properly. And while most test results come back in the normal range, which is between 80 and 100, they occasionally come back higher, 105 to 110, and periodically I see them in the 60s.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose levels, can be a temporary problem, or it can be an ongoing, debilitating problem. Of course, people with diabetes have the situation where their blood sugar goes too high and then goes too low when they have insulin imbalances. Low blood sugar can affect many things in an individual, including cognition, attention, focus, and can even affect behavior and mood. If you see your child get cranky throughout the day when he doesn’t eat frequently, he may have reactive hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia problems.
Now there are quite a few things you can do to help. One of the simplest things you can do is make sure your child eats enough and eats often. This is especially true during growth spurts and their appetites have changed and they need more food. A snack is needed when there is a long period of time between meals, such as 3 to 4 hours. If your child is going to school, the school should be notified that your child needs a snack every half hour to every 2 hours to maintain their blood sugar. Adults can do the same, just eat smaller meals more often. Another important thing is to stay away from a lot of sweets and juices with a lot of sugar. Insulin is released in response to sugar and then a drop in blood sugar occurs, which can be problematic.
So it’s really about balancing more carbs with fats, oils, and protein to properly maintain blood sugar. Dietary interventions can also be very helpful in helping with insulin sensitivity. The mineral chromium may be helpful at 100 to 200 micrograms per day. And a multivitamin, multimineral, and antioxidant supplement may also be helpful.
But really the focus should be to reduce sugar, balance protein, balance carbs, balance fat, and balance simple and complex sugars. Snacks in the morning and in the afternoon between meals allow your child to eat more often, and that’s helpful, too. So if you see this type of behavior, big fluctuations in mood, focus, or attention, you may be seeing the manifestation of a blood sugar problem. And basically, your child just needs to eat.
