The average kid under 12 consumes 49 pounds of sugar per year (think the size of a medium dog!), which is a LOT! It’s hard to put a number on the amount of sugar it causes to start a “sugar shock” and it will definitely vary depending on body size. But scientists recommend not kids shouldn’t eat more than 6 teaspoons a day, but usually kids consume TWICE this amount in a day, which can cause sugar shocks!

The technical term for sugar shock is hyperglycemia. This means that the body has ingested more sugar, or glucose, than it can handle. Glucose is critical for our bodies. Our cells actually need it to function. However, when we eat too much, it can be really unhealthy for our bodies. The healthy range for glucose in the bloodstream is 50-80 milligrams per deciliter. Symptoms of hyperglycemia usually start after 180-200 milligrams per deciliter. It can even go as high as 400! Symptoms of hyperglycemia include frequent urination, increased thirst, blurred vision, heartache, and fatigue. These people need to go to the hospital because if left untreated, it can cause a diabetic coma!