Does Higher Blood Glucose Affect Kids' Behavior?

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Hyperglycemia and externalizing behavior in children with type 1 diabetes, by C.M. McDonnell and colleagues. Diabetes Care 30:2211-2215, 2007.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Often, parents of children with type 1 diabetes will tell a doctor that when they notice their child acting out more, they know there is an increase in their child’s blood glucose level. However, there have been very few studies that have looked at whether behavior and mood are affected much by changes in blood glucose.

Why did researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see if children’s behavior is affected by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels).

Who was studied?

Forty-two children with type 1 diabetes (ages 5-10).

How was the study done?

At two different times, researchers recorded the blood glucose levels of children with type 1 diabetes for 72 hours while parents filled out the Behavioral Assessment Survey for Children (BASC) for the same time period. For more accurate results, this survey asks very specific questions such as “Does your child hit other children almost always? Often? Sometimes? Never?” over general ones like “Is your child aggressive?” Researchers then invented a scoring system to compare glucose levels with behavior.

What did researchers find?

There were more behavior problems when children’s blood glucose was higher, and behavior was worse the longer the child’s blood glucose stayed at a higher level. Likewise, the longer the child’s blood glucose stayed normal, the less the child acted out.

What are the limitations of the study?

Researchers could not explain exactly why high blood glucose affected behavior. They also could not show the same effect on behavior for low blood glucose. When children’s blood glucose was low, “internalizing behaviors” like stressing out and depression did not show up even though previous research shows that hypoglycemia leads to depression over time.

What are the implications of the study?

Understanding the effects of blood glucose on a child’s behavior may help parents control their child’s blood glucose. Poor blood glucose control is linked to long-term metabolic problems, and early control of blood glucose levels could decrease the chance of later health complications and even early death.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For Parents & Kids: Hyperglycemia

Managing Your Child’s Diabetes: Coping

487 Really Cool Tips for Kids with Diabetes