What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition in which the amount of blood glucose (sugar) in the blood is lower than normal.
What causes hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia may be caused by conditions that:
lower the amount of glucose in the bloodstream
prevent or lessen storage of glucose
use up glycogen stores (sugar stored in the liver)
inhibit the use of glucose by the body
Many different conditions are associated with hypoglycemia, including the following:
inadequate maternal nutrition in pregnancy
excess insulin produced in a baby of a diabetic mother
severe hemolytic disease of the newborn (incompatibility of blood types of mother and baby)
birth defects and congenital metabolic diseases
birth asphyxia
cold stress (conditions that are too cold)
liver disease
Who is affected by hypoglycemia?
Babies who are more likely to develop hypoglycemia include:
Babies born to diabetic mothers may develop hypoglycemia after delivery when the source of glucose (the mother's blood) is gone and the baby's insulin production metabolizes the existing glucose.
Small for gestational age or growth-restricted babies may have too few glycogen stores.
Premature babies, especially those with low birthweights, who often have limited glycogen stores (sugar stored in the liver) or an immature liver function.
Why is hypoglycemia a concern?
The brain depends on blood glucose as its main source of fuel. Too little glucose can impair the brain's ability to function. Severe or prolonged hypoglycemia may result in seizures and serious brain injury.
What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Symptoms of hypoglycemia may not be obvious in newborn babies. The following are the most common symptoms of hypoglycemia. However, each baby may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
jitteriness
cyanosis (blue coloring)
apnea (stopping breathing)
hypothermia (low body temperature)
poor body tone
poor feeding
lethargy
seizures
The symptoms of hypoglycemia may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your baby's physician for a diagnosis.
How is hypoglycemia diagnosed?
A simple blood test for blood glucose levels can diagnose hypoglycemia. Blood may be drawn from a heel stick, with a needle from the baby's arm, or through an umbilical catheter (a tube placed in the baby's umbilical cord). Generally, a baby with low blood glucose levels will need treatment.
Treatment for hypoglycemia:
Specific treatment for hypoglycemia will be determined by your baby's physician based on:
your baby's gestational age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your baby's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference
Treatment includes giving the baby a rapid-acting source of glucose. This may be as simple as giving a glucose/water mixture or formula as an early feeding. Or, the baby may need glucose given intravenously. The baby's blood glucose levels are closely monitored after treatment to see if the hypoglycemia occurs again.
Prevention of hypoglycemia:
There may not be any way to prevent hypoglycemia, only to watch carefully for the symptoms and treat as soon as possible. Mothers with diabetes with blood glucose levels in tight control can help minimize the amount of glucose that goes to the fetus.
