Question

What factors or etiologies can lead to neonatal hypoglycemia? What are the potential impacts on the future?

Answer

  1. Premature infants and those with low birth weight, due to their lower glycogen storage, are prone to hypoglycemia if energy required for maintaining body temperature, respiration, and muscle activity is not replenished promptly after birth.
  2. Neonates with conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome, hyaline membrane disease, and hemolytic disease often have poor feeding conditions and a high rate of glucose consumption, which may lead to hypoglycemia.
  3. Neonates whose mothers have diabetes or who have genetic disorders such as galactosemia or glycogen storage disease may also experience hypoglycemia.
  4. Rapid glucose administration may stimulate an increase in neonatal endogenous insulin secretion, and sudden cessation of intake may trigger reactive hypoglycemia. Therefore, for neonates who have experienced asphyxia, especially those with low birth weight, glucose infusion should be gradually reduced or stopped to prevent hypoglycemia.
  5. Some diseases such as hormone deficiencies, diabetes defects, congenital hypopituitarism, and congenital metabolic defects such as maple syrup urine disease and galactosemia may also lead to low blood sugar levels. In terms of future impacts, timely diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia usually do not result in long-term effects. However, prolonged or severe hypoglycemia may have adverse effects on the neurological development of neonates, so it is crucial to correct the hypoglycemic state promptly.