Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Neonatal hypoglycemia is a lower-than-normal blood glucose concentration during the first days of a newborn's life. It is a condition that is closely monitored in newborn care units.

Common causes: it usually occurs in babies of mothers with diabetes, in premature babies, those of low weight, or those who had difficulties during delivery.

Frequent symptoms: tremors, weak crying, excessive drowsiness, difficulty feeding, or irregular breathing; sometimes there are no obvious signs, so glucose is measured routinely.

Which specialist cares for it? The neonatologist monitors the newborn in its first hours, with support from the pediatrician and, if there is associated kidney involvement, the pediatric nephrologist. Since in the neonatal period every hour counts, the ideal is for these specialists to evaluate the baby immediately.