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Review
. 2021 Jul;5(7):513-523.
doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30387-4. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Strategies to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia

Jane M Alsweiler  1 , Deborah L Harris  2 , Jane E Harding  3 , Christopher J D McKinlay  3
Affiliations
Review

Strategies to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia

Jane M Alsweiler et al. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Neonatal hypoglycaemia is associated with adverse development, particularly visual-motor and executive function impairment, in childhood. As neonatal hypoglycaemia is common and frequently asymptomatic in at-risk babies-ie, those born preterm, small or large for gestational age, or to mothers with diabetes, it is recommended that these babies are screened for hypoglycaemia in the first 1-2 days after birth with frequent blood glucose measurements. Neonatal hypoglycaemia can be prevented and treated with buccal dextrose gel, and it is also common to treat babies with hypoglycaemia with infant formula and intravenous dextrose. However, it is uncertain if screening, prophylaxis, or treatment improves long-term outcomes of babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia. This narrative review assesses the latest evidence for screening, prophylaxis, and treatment of neonates at risk of hypoglycaemia to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Glucose centiles in healthy term babies From Harris D et al. Glucose profiles in healthy term infants in the first five days: The Glucose in Well Babies (GLOW) study. J Pediatr. 2020;223:34–41.(17) Permission to use to be sought from Elsevier
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Buccal dextrose gel to treat neonatal hypoglycaemia algorithm. From Alsweiler JM, Harding J, Crowther C, Woodall SM, “The Oral Dextrose Gel to Treat Neonatal Hypoglycaemia Clinical Practice Guidelines” Panel. Oral dextrose gel to treat neonatal hypoglycaemia: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Auckland: University of Auckland; 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2292/26266. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.(86) BGC, blood glucose concentration
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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