Question

How to treat neonatal hypoglycemia?

Answer

The patient is a half-hour-old female infant. The diagnosis upon admission was neonatal cyanosis, asphyxia, and aspiration pneumonia. She was administered 120ml of 5% glucose solution for slow intravenous infusion. After the completion of intravenous treatment, she experienced excessive sweating. The blood glucose level measured (micro method) was 3.3mmol/L. What could be the cause? The mother has a history of gestational diabetes. Case Analysis: Hypoglycemia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in neonates. Since newborns have low responsiveness, hypoglycemia often does not present with typical symptoms and is often overlooked, which can affect intelligence and should be taken seriously. Guidance: Timely breastfeeding is a crucial step in preventing hypoglycemia. For full-term infants, breastfeeding can usually begin within half an hour after birth. If there is no milk, the baby should be encouraged to suckle more frequently to correct the condition and maintain normal blood glucose levels. For infants with galactosemia, breastfeeding should be discontinued and non-lactose-containing diets should be provided.