I think it’s psychological. The mom was petrified of giving the kid sugar. Did a family member die of diabetes? Does the mom have it and wants to stop the kid from getting it. She refused the nurse from giving the kid food. That’s fear.
Does sound like she mighta had mental problems.
Not fear, sadism. She should have been charged for attempted murder.
She fed him nothing but crackers tho. Certainly she doesn’t understand how the body metabolizes carbs.