Glucose is the main sugar the body uses as a source of energy. The levels of glucose in the body are regulated by several hormones and affected by the foods we eat. Children with blood sugar abnormalities can exhibit symptoms of altered mental status, including confusion and loss of consciousness.
Identification
Altered mental status is a general term that health providers use to describe any change in a person's baseline mental state, from mild changes such as irritability to more severe alterations such as confusion, loss of consciousness and coma. There are many causes of altered mental status, but in children, some of the most common include accidental ingestion of drugs, medicines and other substances; conditions that affect the brain, such as infections; and metabolic conditions that affect blood sugar levels, such as diabetes.
Blood Sugar Levels
Insulin is the main hormone responsible for the maintenance of appropriate levels of sugar in the bloodstream. If insulin levels are too low, or the insulin present in the bloodstream cannot work effectively, high blood sugar results, a condition we know as diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, frequent thirst and constant hunger. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can tend to cause altered mental status both in children and adults.
Causes of Hypoglycemia in Children
According to the Children's Hospital of Boston, common causes of low blood sugar in children include too much medication, for example a large dose of a glucose-lowering medicine in a child with diabetes; missing or delaying a meal; a condition called hyperinsulinism, in which the pancreas secretes too much insulin, lowering blood sugar levels; and other congenital or genetic conditions that prevent the child's body from maintaining appropriate glucose levels in the bloodstream.
Treatment
If your child has accidentally ingested a glucose-lowering medicine, or if she has diabetes and receives a larger dose than usual of medicine, she might exhibit altered mental status. If you have a glucose meter, check your child's blood sugar to make sure the alteration in mental status is caused by low blood sugar and not another cause. If you can arouse the child, give her a liquid with high-sugar content, such as orange juice. If you cannot arouse your child, or if the sugar continues to be low despite your efforts, it is important to call for medical assistance as soon as possible to avoid long-term brain damage.
