What is neonatal hypoglycemia?
Neonatal hypoglycemia occurs in between 1 and 3 of every 1000 births, making it the most common metabolic issue among newborns. The condition refers to a newborn baby with low blood sugar (aka glucose) levels following birth. Among healthy newborns, it’s actually quite normal for blood sugar to dip right after a baby enters the world. However, when glucose concentrations drop in the first 24 hours of life, your infant may be diagnosed with neonatal hypoglycemia.
Without treatment, chronic low blood sugar could be associated with neurological damage and result in developmental issues. However, medical professionals are trained to closely monitor for symptoms of neonatal hypoglycemia and intervene quickly, which can drastically reduce the risk of complications.
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Causes of hypoglycemia in newborns
Hypoglycemia can occur in newborns for several reasons: In some cases, there may be excess circulating levels of insulin, a hormone that mediates blood glucose levels.
Alternatively, your baby’s body may be unable to produce ample glucose, or may be using more glucose than it's producing. Because babies transition from receiving glucose via the placenta to taking it in from breastmilk or formula, it’s also possible that a newborn with low blood sugar is experiencing feeding issues that prohibit them from getting enough glucose orally.
What are the risks factors for neonatal hypoglycemia?
Several risk factors can increase the odds that your infant experiences neonatal hypoglycemia: If they are born preterm, large, or small for their gestational size, they face a heightened risk of blood sugar issues. Maternal diabetes is also associated with an elevated risk of neonatal hypoglycemia and hypothermia. Alternatively, serious infections or low oxygen following birth can interfere with blood glucose levels, contributing to early blood sugar issues.
Symptoms of neonatal hypoglycemia
Mild symptoms of neonatal hypoglycemia may include jitteriness or tremors, but infants with pale or bluish skin, vomiting or poor feeding, or low body temperature may be screened for the condition via heel prick. In more severe cases, an infant might present as particularly lethargic (i.e., loose or floppy muscles, pauses in breathing, etc.), or experience seizures, sweating, or a coma. That said, there are frequently cases where neonatal hypoglycemia is asymptomatic and only uncovered through glucose screening performed due to a heightened risk of developing the condition.
Can neonatal hypoglycemia cause any other serious conditions?
While it’s known that severe, recurring low blood sugar in newborns can contribute to brain damage in areas of the brain that can lead to long-term disability, visual impairment, and epilepsy, research suggests no significant differences in neurodevelopment between infants with and without a history of neonatal hypoglycemia.
Rarely, newborns who are diagnosed with this condition can go on to experience recurrent seizures or heart failure, but these outcomes tend to be linked to underlying conditions, not low blood sugar itself.
Treatment options for hypoglycemia in newborns
Treatment for neonatal hypoglycemia is designed to correct low blood glucose levels. This can be as simple as extra feedings of breastmilk or formula, oral sugar gel, or an intravenous sugar solution and a stay in the NICU. Typically, interventions continue until your baby can maintain safe blood sugar levels, which can last for hours or days after birth. Medications are also available for use in rare cases.
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Learning that your baby has a medical issue can understandably be scary, but neonatal hypoglycemia typically isn't something to worry too much about. Once diagnosed, this condition can be treated fairly easily, meaning you can rest assured that your child will grow up strong, healthy, and capable of leading a perfectly normal – and even exceptional! – life.
