Extreme behaviour from 6 year old when hungry - is it a worry?

[ZandMsmum]

My 6 year old son is increasingly stroppy - I gather from threads on here that this is pretty normal and probably testosterone related. However, he seems to have really bad mood swings if he is hungry. He gets almost hysterical and so angry but as soon as we get some food down him he calms down. Should I be worried that there is a problem with his blood sugar levels? There is no diabetes issue in mine or DH's family so I don't really have any experience to go on

[Seeline]

My 4 yo behaves very similarly when hungry. She eats very little at the best of times, and if she is late with a meal, things get bad very quickly - cries alot, shouts alot, generally rude and badly behaved. As soon as she eats she is fine again. I've never worried about it particularly as I know how grouchy i get when deprived of food

[DoubleBluff]

My friends Ds aged 10 was like this before he was diagnosed with diabetes, no other syptoms, and no other family history.
Hopefullt it isn't but worht gettin gchecked out.

[Overmydeadbody]

ZandM how about giving him more smaller meals at regular intervals so he doesn't get to the stage where he is so hungry he has a bad mood swing?

[Notquitegrownup]

My five year old is exactly the same. I assumed that it was boy behaviour, but you've made me wonder now . . .

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Don't have a 6 yo so don't know whether this is normal or not, but if there's even a suspicion of diabetes then it's best to get it checked out.

Does he drink a lot of fluids? Wee a lot? Have bad breath? Has he lost weight lately?

[ZandMsmum]

Just checked some diabetes websites out and I think I might get him into the docs just in case. Hopefully it is all that growing and hormones and 6 year old boy stuff. Thank you all for your advice.

[JamieJay]

My DH (who is 31!) has horrid mood swings if he gets too hungry. No diabetes or anything like that, just think some people are prone.

[clumsymum]

If it's any consolation I have a 45 Y.O who is much the same (dh).

He has been tested for diabetes on a few occasions over the years, never any concern.

SDome people just get more irritable when their blood sugar is low.

TBH ds (8) is a bit the same, I try to remember regulazr feeding, and take cereal bars out with us if I think there may be a prob.

[Sidge]

Children aren't really designed to exist on 3 squares a day - they need more of a cow's diet, eg constant grazing!

They have small stomachs, tend to be very active and so utilise energy quickly and so need to replace it by eating. There is a school of thought that children should eat about 6 times a day (not necessarily proper meals each time, but eating something substantial).

Eg breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, supper. Lots of protein and carbs, don't restrict fats too much, and plenty of fluids.

[WilfSell]

My eldest exactly the same.

Feed every two hours is the trick.