Nursing Science: How much do you know about neonatal hypoglycemia?

Neonatal hypoglycemia is when the blood sugar of a newborn is lower than the required blood sugar concentration. Clinically, neonatal hypoglycemia can be diagnosed when the blood sugar of a newborn is lower than 2.2mmol/L, and lower than 2.6mmol/L is the limit value that needs to be treated clinically. Neonatal hypoglycemia often occurs in premature infants and infants of diabetic mothers. It can also be seen when the newborn suffers from serious diseases, such as hypoxia, scleredema, and sepsis.

During the fetal period, the placenta can provide enough nutrition and energy for the development and growth of the fetus. After the fetus is born, the placenta is disconnected and the newborn needs to control the blood sugar level by himself. Blood sugar is the main source of energy for newborns, especially for the brain development of newborns. It can help newborns maintain body temperature, control breathing, and maintain normal muscle movement. Hypoglycemia may cause a series of health problems in newborns, including brain damage, convulsions, coma and even death. So, how much do you know about neonatal hypoglycemia?

What is the normal blood sugar level for a newborn?

The normal blood sugar value for newborns is between 3.9-6.1mmol/L. If it exceeds this standard, it can be judged as abnormal. The diagnostic standard for hypoglycemia is blood sugar <2.2mmol/L. Clinically, clinical intervention is required when blood sugar is <2.6mmol/L. Blood sugar >7mmol/L can be diagnosed as neonatal hyperglycemia.

Why do newborns experience hypoglycemia?

The reasons why newborns are prone to hypoglycemia include abnormal placental function during the fetal period, fetal growth restriction, excessive insulin secretion in the newborn, and maternal diabetes.

What are the symptoms that indicate hypoglycemia in a newborn?

Early symptoms:

Difficulty sucking: taking longer to complete feedings and crying frequently.

Hypothermia: Low blood sugar may affect the body's ability to regulate temperature, leading to hypothermia.

Irregular breathing: such as shortness of breath or choking.

Confusion: May appear dazed, listless, or have other unusual behavior.

Shivering: shaking of the hands and feet.

Late symptoms:

Convulsions: If hypoglycemia causes damage to brain nerve function, it may cause muscle seizures in newborns.

Loss of consciousness: If hypoglycemia is very severe and not treated promptly, it may cause loss of consciousness and coma in the newborn.

Glucose intolerance: In late stages, the newborn's ability to process glucose decreases, and recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia may occur.

It should be noted that most newborns may not have obvious symptoms, so it is recommended to perform blood sugar screening after the baby is born.

How to prevent neonatal hypoglycemia?

Regularly test the blood sugar of newborns to ensure early detection and early treatment;

If the mother has diabetes or other related diseases, blood sugar should be closely monitored during pregnancy to ensure that blood sugar levels are appropriately managed;

For situations with known risks of neonatal hypoglycemia, such as premature infants, mother-infant separation, and fetal growth restriction, early warning and preventive measures are needed, such as close monitoring of blood glucose levels and early initiation of feeding.

How to care for neonatal hypoglycemia?

Timely feeding: For neonatal hypoglycemia, it is very important to start feeding as soon as possible. The baby needs to get enough glucose to raise the blood sugar level. Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, ensuring that the baby gets enough nutrition every day is the key. In addition, for hypoglycemia caused by inborn errors of metabolism, such as galactosemia or fructose intolerance, stop drinking milk and give lactose-free food.

Observe the baby's symptoms: Pay attention to whether the baby has symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as dull expression, low body temperature, difficulty sucking, irregular breathing and heart rate, convulsions, etc. Early detection can take appropriate measures for timely intervention. In addition, the baby's blood sugar should be monitored every 1-2 hours, and the monitoring can be suspended if the blood sugar index is normal for two consecutive times.

Strengthen daily warmth: Reducing energy consumption is an important part of neonatal hypoglycemia care. Make sure the newborn wears appropriate clothing, keeps warm, avoids excessive heat or cold, and maintains a suitable temperature for the newborn's environment, usually between 25-28 degrees Celsius. In addition, you can also use warming tools such as baby heaters, electric blankets, hot water bottles or heating lamps to ensure that the newborn is in a comfortable and warm environment, but be careful when using these tools to avoid scalding the baby.

Assistance from the medical team: Close cooperation with the medical team is crucial. If your baby is diagnosed with hypoglycemia, you should communicate with the medical staff in a timely manner and follow the medical staff's advice for appropriate treatment and care. Children diagnosed with hypoglycemia should have regular follow-up visits, so that health problems in the newborn can be discovered in time and measures can be taken to solve them.

In short, hypoglycemia may cause various problems in newborns. Early detection and proper treatment of hypoglycemia are very important. Understanding and mastering relevant knowledge can not only help us take better care of the health of newborns, but also help more people learn to properly deal with such problems. I hope that reading this article can help you understand neonatal hypoglycemia. The views expressed in this article are only personal. If you have any related questions, please consult professional medical personnel. (Wang Ru, Department of Neonatology, Shijiazhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital)