Incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia among neonates: A prospective study

Background and Aim: it has been observed that low levels of the blood glucose do not cause health issues in the neonates. This is due to the fact that the neonates are adjusting to the life outside the uterus. Present study was carried out to study incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia among neonates in semi urban areas. Material and Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study performed at the Department of Pediatrics, Nootan general hospital NMCRC Visnagar, India January 2021 to June 2021. 150 neonates were included. Ballards score was used to divide them into four groups of gestational age. Standard glucometer was used to measure blood glucose in mothers and neonates. For mothers, it was measured at time of delivery. For neonates, it was measured at zero, three, six, twelve and twenty four hours of birth. Standard treatment protocol was followed for neonatal hypoglycemia Results: As the mother blood glucose increased the babies blood glucose decreased with r=-0.18 but this correlation was not found to be statistically significant ( p> 0.05). The differences in the blood glucose levels at different time points at different gestational ages were not found to be statistically significant. As maternal blood glucose increased, neonatal glucose decreased. Important risk factors found for hypoglycemia in neonates were being born by lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), low for gestational age (LGA) babies and small for gestational age (SGA) babies, pre-term and post term babies. But these risk factors were not found to be statistically significant ( p> 0.05). Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is surprisingly common among neonates in developing countries There was a wide variation of blood glucose levels in newborns. Preterm and post-term babies, babies delivered by LSCS, LGA and SGA babies were more prone for hypoglycemia requiring blood glucose monitoring.