Newborns need glucose, or sugar, for energy, particularly in the brain. Low glucose, known as hypoglycemia, occurs in about two out of every 1,000 newborns, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The condition means your baby doesn't have enough glucose in the blood to meet the body's needs. Prompt treatment to raise the glucose levels prevents long-term problems for your baby.
Causes
Low glucose levels in babies occur when there is a low amount in the blood, the body isn't able to store the glucose or the body has difficulty using it. Several situations can lead to glucose issues, such as a mother not getting adequate nutrition while pregnant or having diabetes, resulting in excess insulin. Other potential causes include an incompatibility between the baby and mother's blood, birth defects, premature birth, metabolic disorders or lack of oxygen at birth.
Symptoms
Hypoglycemia is sometimes difficult to diagnose due to a lack of symptoms. Possible symptoms include a bluish tinge to the skin, breathing problems, difficulty eating, lethargy, low body tone, low body temperature, irritability, paleness and shakiness. Symptoms overlap with other medical conditions, so low blood glucose isn't always identified immediately. If the condition is suspected or the baby has risk factors for low blood glucose, a blood test is used to diagnose it.
Effects
Beyond the immediate symptoms of low blood sugar, the baby may experience impairment in brain function due to lack of fuel. A relapse of low blood glucose is a possibility for some babies. Long-term effects of hypoglycemia that goes untreated or is severe include heart problems, seizures, brain injury or developmental problems. As the baby gets older, he may experience problems with learning.
Treatment
Immediate nursing or bottle feeding aids a baby born with low blood glucose. If the baby is unable to eat herself, tube feeding may become necessary. When the blood sugar is particularly low, an intravenous sugar solution is sometimes given to raise the blood glucose quickly. Medications to raise the blood glucose or lower production of insulin also are an option.
