Background Neonatal hypoglycemia is common and can cause neurologic impairment, but evidence supporting thresholds for intervention is limited. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study involving 528 neonates with a gestational age of at least 35 weeks who were considered to be at risk for hypoglycemia; all were treated to maintain a blood glucose concentration of at least 47 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter). We intermittently measured blood glucose for up to 7 days. We continuously monitored interstitial glucose concentrations, which were masked to clinical staff. Assessment at 2 years included Bayley Scales of Infant Development III and tests of executive and visual function. Results Of 614 children, 528 were eligible, and 404 (77% of eligible children) were assessed; 216 children (53%) had neonatal hypoglycemia (blood glucose concentration, <47 mg per deciliter). Hypoglycemia, when treated to maintain a blood glucose concentration of at least 47 mg per deciliter, was not associated with an increased risk of the primary outcomes of neurosensory impairment (risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.20; P = 0.67) and processing difficulty, defined as an executive-function score or motion coherence threshold that was more than 1.5 SD from the mean (risk ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.51; P = 0.74). Risks were not increased among children with unrecognized hypoglycemia (a low interstitial glucose concentration only). The lowest blood glucose concentration, number of hypoglycemic episodes and events, and negative interstitial increment (area above the interstitial glucose concentration curve and below 47 mg per deciliter) also did not predict the outcome. Conclusions In this cohort, neonatal hypoglycemia was not associated with an adverse neurologic outcome when treatment was provided to maintain a blood glucose concentration of at least 47 mg per deciliter. (Funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and others.)

for the Children With Hypoglycemia and Their Later Development (CHYLD) Study Team IMPORTANCE Hypoglycemia is common during neonatal transition and may cause permanent neurological impairment, but optimal intervention thresholds are unknown.OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that neurodevelopment at 4.5 years is related to the severity and frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThe Children With Hypoglycemia and Their Later Development (CHYLD) Study is a prospective cohort investigation of moderate to late preterm and term infants born at risk of hypoglycemia. Clinicians were masked to neonatal interstitial glucose concentrations; outcome assessors were masked to neonatal glycemic status. The setting was a regional perinatal center in Hamilton, New Zealand. The study was conducted from December 2006 to November 2010. The dates of the follow-up were September 2011 to June 2015. Participants were 614 neonates born from 32 weeks' gestation with at least 1 risk factor for hypoglycemia, including diabetic mother, preterm, small, large, or acute illness. Blood and masked interstitial glucose concentrations were measured for up to 7 days after birth. Infants with hypoglycemia (whole-blood glucose concentration <47 mg/dL) were treated to maintain blood glucose concentration of at least 47 mg/dL. EXPOSURES Neonatal hypoglycemic episode, defined as at least 1 consecutive blood glucose concentration less than 47 mg/dL, a severe episode (<36 mg/dL), or recurrent (Ն3 episodes). An interstitial episode was defined as an interstitial glucose concentration less than 47 mg/dL for at least 10 minutes. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESCognitive function, executive function, visual function, and motor function were assessed at 4.5 years. The primary outcome was neurosensory impairment, defined as poor performance in one or more domains. RESULTSIn total, 477 of 604 eligible children (79.0%) were assessed. Their mean (SD) age at the time of assessment was 4.5 (0.1) years, and 228 (47.8%) were female. Those exposed to neonatal hypoglycemia (280 [58.7%]) did not have increased risk of neurosensory impairment (risk difference [RD], 0.01; 95% CI, −0.07 to 0.10 and risk ratio [RR], 0.96; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.21). However, hypoglycemia was associated with increased risk of low executive function (RD, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.10 and RR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.17 to 4.59) and visual motor function (RD, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.06 and RR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.15 to 11.69), with highest risk in children exposed to severe, recurrent, or clinically undetected (interstitial episodes only) hypoglycemia.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Neonatal hypoglycemia was not associated with increased risk of combined neurosensory impairment at 4.5 years but was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of poor executive function and visual motor function, even if not detected clinically, and may thus influence later learning. Randomized trials are needed to determine optimal screening and intervention thresholds based on assessment of neurodevelopment at le...

BackgroundNeonatal hypoglycemia is common and a preventable cause of brain damage.Dextrose gel is used to reverse hypoglycemia in diabetics. However, there is little evidence for its use in babies. MethodWe enrolled 514 babies 35 to 42 weeks' gestation, < 48 hours, and at risk of hypoglycemia, to a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial to determine whether 40% dextrose gel massaged into the buccal mucosa is more effective than feeding alone in reversing hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic babies were randomized to 40% dextrose gel 200 mg/kg (n= 118) or placebo (n= 119) and encouraged to feed.Primary outcome was treatment failure (blood glucose concentration <2·6 mmol/L) after two treatment attempts. FindingsDextrose gel reduced the frequency of treatment failure (16/118 (14%) in dextrose vs. 29/119 (24%) in placebo group, RR 0·57; 95% CI 0·33 to 0·98; p=0·04). Babies receiving dextrose gel were less likely to be admitted to intensive care for hypoglycemia, (16/118 (14%) vs. 30/119 (25%); RR 0.54 (0.31, 0.93); P=0.03), to receive formula feeds (median 7 vs. 10 feeds; median difference 2; 95% CI 0 to 4; p=0·04) and to be formula fed at two weeks (5/118 (4%) vs.15/119 (13%), RR 0·34; 95% CI 0·13 to 0·90; p=0·03). 3 InterpretationDextrose gel should be considered for first-line treatment for management of hypoglycemia in late preterm and term babies in the first 48 hours after birth.

Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) and tight glycaemic control (TGC), particularly in intensive care units (ICU), are the subjects of increasing and con-