It is almost a century since hypoglycaemia (a reduction in the glucose concentration of circulating blood) was first described in children, and over 50 years since the condition was first recognized in infants. Nevertheless, controversy still surrounds the definition, significance, and management of neonatal hypoglycaemia. Technological developments such as bedside glucose monitoring have, para...

OBJECTIVES Neonatal hypoglycaemia is a potential cause of neonatal morbidity, and on rare but tragic occasions causes long-term neurodevelopmental harm with consequent emotional and practical costs for the family. The organisational cost to the NHS includes the cost of successful litigation claims. The purpose of the review was to identify themes that could alert clinicians to common pitfalls a...

Neonatal hypoglycaemia is not in itself a medical condition, but can be an indication of underlying illness or a failure to adapt physiologically to the outside world at birth. Hypoglycaemia can lead to death if it is not recognised, and long term neurodevelopmental outcomes are still not clear. It is almost 70 years since hypoglycaemia was first recognised in newborn and older infants but cont...

Kemball, M. L., McIver, C., Milner, R. D. G., Nourse, C. H., Schiff, D., Tiernan, J. R. (1970). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 45, 696. Neonatal hypoglycaemia in infants of diabetic mothers given sulphonylurea drugs in pregnancy. Three infants whose diabetic mothers were given chlorpropamide and one infant whose diabetic mother was given acetohexamide up to the time of delivery were studied ...

The use of Dextrostix Reflectance Meter (DRM)* to measure blood glucose has been reported recently. The method has proved to be simnple, rapid, and accurate, and to correlate well with various reference methods (Mazzaferri et al., 1970; Jarret, Keen, and Hardwick, 1970; Schersten, 1971; Deckert and Futtrup, 1971). The handiness of the DRM seemed to make it an excellent tool in the diagnosis of ...

The transition from fetal to neonatal life requires metabolic adaptation to ensure energy supply to vital organs and systems after separation from the placental circulation. Under normal conditions this is achieved through the mobilisation and use of alternative cerebral fuels (fatty acids, ketone bodies and lactate) when blood glucose concentration falls. The level of blood glucose (BG) concen...

The use of Dextrostix Reflectance Meter (DRM)* to measure blood glucose has been reported recently. The method has proved to be simnple, rapid, and accurate, and to correlate well with various reference methods (Mazzaferri et al., 1970; Jarret, Keen, and Hardwick, 1970; Schersten, 1971; Deckert and Futtrup, 1971). The handiness of the DRM seemed to make it an excellent tool in the diagnosis of ...