Babies usually are able to regulate their own blood sugar levels, also called blood glucose levels. In some cases, however, problems can arise that throw off the glucose regulation system. Most of the time, these abnormalities in infant blood sugar levels are easy to treat and the baby's system takes over to restore proper blood glucose control.
Normal Blood Sugar
During fetal development, your baby gets all the glucose he needs from your bloodstream, but after birth he needs to produce his own or ingest sugars through food. A healthy baby's pancreas produces insulin in sufficient quantities to regulate the levels of glucose in the blood, removing some if it gets too high and producing more in the liver when it drops too low.
Neonatal Hypoglycemia
When a baby has low blood sugar in the days following birth, this condition is called neonatal hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can occur because of an overabundance of insulin or a lack of glucose. It is common in babies of women who had diabetes during pregnancy. A feeding with breast milk or formula in the few hours after birth can help raise blood sugar levels back to normal. In severe cases, the baby might need a sugar solution or medication to reduce insulin production.
Infant Hyperglycemia
Babies whose insulin function is impaired might have hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Liver problems, infections and hormone imbalances all can cause temporary hyperglycemia in infants. Dehydration can be a concern if the baby is urinating frequently to get rid of the extra blood glucose, but temporary hyperglycemia usually clears up on its own.
Infant Diabetes
In some babies, the pancreas does not produce insulin or produces too little to be effective. In these cases, the infant might be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. These infants might need to receive insulin injections for the rest of their lives. Type 1 diabetes is more likely in infants with a parent who has the condition. According to Baby Center, 1 in every 400 to 600 children has type 1 diabetes.
Considerations
If you are at high risk of having a baby with abnormal blood sugar, your doctor should monitor you throughout the end of pregnancy and check the baby's blood sugar levels immediately after birth. Babies with high or low blood sugar after birth need monitoring until blood glucose is stabilized.
