Neonatal Hypoglycaemia Specialists in Maharashtra

What is Neonatal Hypoglycaemia?

Neonatal hypoglycaemia is a condition in which a newborn's blood sugar level drops below the normal range shortly after birth, occurring because the baby's body is adjusting from receiving a continuous glucose supply through the placenta to relying on intermittent feeding and its own glucose regulation. It is particularly common in certain higher-risk infants, such as those born to mothers with diabetes, premature babies, and those who are unusually small or large for gestational age. While often transient and easily corrected with feeding, prolonged or severe hypoglycaemia can affect brain function and requires prompt monitoring and treatment in at-risk newborns.

Causes of Neonatal Hypoglycaemia

Results from an imbalance between the newborn's glucose supply and demand, commonly seen in infants of diabetic mothers who have higher insulin levels at birth, premature infants with limited glucose reserves, and babies who are small or large for gestational age. Other causes include inadequate feeding in the first hours of life, cold stress increasing metabolic demand, and, less commonly, underlying metabolic or hormonal disorders. The newborn's limited glycogen stores can be rapidly depleted in these higher-risk situations.

Symptoms of Neonatal Hypoglycaemia

Jitteriness or tremors, poor feeding or weak sucking, lethargy or excessive sleepiness, irritability, low body temperature, rapid or irregular breathing, a weak or high-pitched cry, in severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness, though some affected infants show no obvious symptoms at all

Treatment & Types of Neonatal Hypoglycaemia in Maharashtra

Mild cases are typically managed with early and frequent breastfeeding or formula feeding to help stabilize blood sugar levels, along with close monitoring of glucose levels in at-risk infants. More significant or persistent hypoglycaemia is treated with intravenous glucose administration in a hospital setting until the baby's blood sugar stabilizes and feeding is well established. Identifying and monitoring infants at higher risk allows for proactive screening and prompt treatment before symptoms become severe.

Neonatal hypoglycaemia is classified as transient, resolving within the first day or two of life once feeding is established, which accounts for most cases, or persistent, lasting beyond 48 hours and sometimes indicating an underlying metabolic or hormonal disorder that requires further specialist evaluation.

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