Low Blood Sugar Levels ( Hypoglycemia ) in Newborn

DEFINITION

Hypoglycemia is a blood sugar (glucose) is low.

CAUSE

Baby needs glucose for energy, and mostly for the brain. Before birth, the baby gets glucose from the mother through the placenta. After birth, the baby gets glucose from breast milk or formula, and is also produced in the liver.

Blood sugar can drop if:

·         Too much insulin in the blood, for example, in infants whose mothers with diabetes.

·         Babies do not produce enough glucose

·         Babies use more glucose than those generated

·         Babies are not able to eat enough to keep blood sugar levels

Hypoglycemia usually occurs when a baby at birth has reserves of low glucose (which is stored in the form of glycogen). Hypoglycemia is usually tends to occur in:

·         Babies who are born prematurely, have a severe infection, or require the help of oxygen shortly after birth

·         Infants whose mothers with diabetes (babies are often larger than normal)

·         Infants with low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)

·         Babies who have certain genetic disorders

·         Infants who experience barriers to growth in the womb

·         Dysfunction of the placenta (afterbirth) during the baby in the womb

·         Babies who are small for gestational age

·         Babies born past month (Post-maturity)

SYMPTOMS

Many babies with hypoglycemia who do not show symptoms. However, there are also babies who show symptoms as follows:

- Skin color pale or bluish

- Breathing disorders, such as rapid breathing or occur apnea (stopping breathing)

- sluggish

- Muscle weakness

- Not strong suck

- An eating disorder

- gag

- Disruptions in maintaining body temperature to keep warm

- Tremor or shaking

- Sweating

- Sometimes arise seizures

DIAGNOSIS

Newborns at risk for hypoglycemia should carry out regular checks of blood sugar after birth. This needs to be done to monitor and ensure the baby's blood sugar remains normal.

TREATMENT

Infants with low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) should be given additional glucose, either by mouth or intravenously, depending on the severity of hypoglycemia.

Treatment continued for a few hours, days, or weeks, until the baby can keep blood sugar levels. Babies who are born prematurely, have an infection, or born with low weight may require longer therapy.

PREVENTION

If a pregnant woman has diabetes, then he needs to control blood sugar levels well. Do a pregnancy examination and handling of blood sugar to the doctor regularly. And be sure to monitor the baby's blood sugar levels after birth.

REFERENCE

- L, Kimberly G. Low Blood Sugar - Newborn. Medline Plus. 2011.