Question from Calgary, Alberta, Canada:

I have noticed that there is correlation between my 11 year old boy’s (from a very young age) moods and what he has recently eaten, in particular foods containing high sources of sugar, natural source or refined. There have been times when he gets a glazed over look, certain look in his eyes, his skin is pale and he is not himself. He can become highly irritated, argumentative and insisting on a sugar source. This has escalated in the past few years to some very verbal behavior that is not pleasant.

I have read the typical signs and symptoms for hypoglycemia, but there isn’t much indication of a persons mood being affected in an aggressive way. He doesn’t get the shakes or vomit — he just gets nasty and difficult to be around. To what extent can a persons behavior be affected? I would like to find out more about the effects on mood and behavior as a result of fluctuating blood sugar levels.