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Desperately need some help re. sugar addiction.

Frazzledmumjo

My son is 13 and has aspergers. I am now at the end of my tether with him. He cannot control himself around food - mainly sugar. He steals food from the cupboards after being told no, he eats sugar from the packet. I look after his money as he can't control himself with it, but now he's stealing it and spending it on sweets. He had £10 worth of sweets last week. I can't even have sugar in the house any more. I buy sweetener as he doesn't seem to like the texture of it, but every time I want to bake, I have to buy caster sugar. I use a small amount and then he eats the rest. I try hiding it, but he finds it. 

I just don't know how to stop him any more. 

I've tried talking to him and reasoning, explaining about health issues, stealing etc. nothing seems to work. 

  • Hi Frazzledmumjo,

     I have two sons with ASD. One craves sugar in huge quantities, the other has food pangs and difficulty controlling the amount he eats. Midnight feasts etc, but for him it’s more about quantity control, than about sugar. He craves food, full stop. Sweet and savoury. He doesn’t seem to have an ‘I’m full’ trigger.

    The sugar thing is very worrying. He literally pours it over everything. Not spoons into tea, just pours it in. then you are left with half a cupful of syrupy un-dissolved granules in the bottom of the cup. Makes my teeth go on edge, just thinking about it.

    You may find my earlier suggestions in relation to another feed, helpful.

    ·         Quote: Eating:- eating something either too early or too tale in the day can have an effect. Most people say you should not eat after a certain hour, however in the case of one of my boys I’ve had to move his last eating time forward to much later to help sustain him for a greater period of the night. (He has to eat regularly so that he doesn’t feel unwell, but for some reason his night time switch doesn’t recognise the fasting period that most of us have at night.) Experiment with the timings of the last meal to see if this has an effect.

    It’s a debated, theory, but whilst researching the issues with my sons sleep related difficulties, I came across this info, which may also help you to understand some theories behind the cravings. Adrenal exhaustion.

    www.autismfile.com/.../autism-and-adrenal-stress

    Being on the spectrum can often mean high levels of anxiety. And this can mean constant adrenal stimulation. The product of this can mean extreme tiredness and low blood sugar levels.

    It’s believed to be related to the endocrine system and the level of adrenaline coursing through the body. Parents often report cravings increasing as a child gets older. I’m only guessing, but I imagine this is because as a child moves up the ladder of life the demands and expectations grow, and naturally, so do anxiety levels.

    The body is an incredible thing. We need to listen to what it is telling us. Cravings are the bodies way of telling us we need certain nutrients and energy.

    Closely managing anxiety levels and acting to reduce anxiety will help. In my opinion, monitoring anxiety needs to come from the sufferer. However, If you are on the spectrum, it maybe that you find it difficult to identify what triggers your anxiety or even when you are more anxious than usual. Therefore you may need to help your son with identifying stress triggers. Extraneous factors that we have no control over will also contribute to raised levels of anxiety. Things like exams, transition periods in school, changes of environment, small changes even, or change full stop.

    Can I suggest you ask yourself some questions, as a starting point. Are there any stresses that you can eliminate to help him? Has he had any changes that may add to his anxiety levels of late? Options at School maybe, or a change of friendship groups etc. Does he realize you are stressed about his consumption? I’d been getting very stressy with my son. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but was answering his bodies needs. He felt guilty over his consumption, got anxious and consumed more!

    The key; as I’m learning, is awareness and adaptation. Try Moving and increasing the regularity of mealtimes to sustain blood sugar levels if necessary. Perhaps he should eat smaller meals more regularly throughout the day. (I have to do this for my son who gets migraines if he doesn’t eat regularly.) Don’t eliminate natural sugars, but eliminate stress that is controllable. If you eliminate controllable stress, what you are left with is ‘manageable extraneous stress’ providing it’s not too extreme.

    From there, firstly, I’d take active steps to get your son professional support from a intuitionalist who’s experienced with ASD. They should be able to help with essential supplements and advise on foods to help sustain and manage blood sugar and cravings.

    Secondly, I’d consider some other relaxing therapies. Massage, swimming, regular walks. They don’t need to cost huge sums, just enough relaxing pursuits to restore some balance.

    I hope you understand I’m no expert. Just a mum in search of the meaning and management of the many facets that affect my own children. Good luck.

    Regards

    Coogybear. xx