What Causes High Blood Sugar In Newborns
Neonatal hypoglycemia can be caused by a number of reasons and can be well managed to ensure the well being of the baby.
What causes high blood sugar in newborns. Severe or persistent low blood sugar level may affect the babys mental function. Factors that may increase the babys chances of getting neonatal hypoglycemia include. In rare cases heart failure or seizures may occur. Causes of low blood sugar in newborns sugar levels usually drop in the first few hours after a child is born.
A common cause of hyperglycemia in infants is gestational diabetes mellitus gdm that develops in the mother during pregnancy. In case of newborns the bodys requirements for glucose is fulfilled from lactose present in milk. Though blood sugar levels can fluctuate especially a few hours after birth some infants may be susceptible to hypoglycemia due to other factors. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.
The cause of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar in general is the lack of enough insulin in the body. Neonatal hypoglycemia occurs when a newborns blood glucose is less than the babys body needs. Learn more about symptoms causes and treatment. Scroll down to learn about the causes risk factors.
However some babies are at higher risk of low blood sugar levels. Generally low blood sugar in newborns is caused by conditions that reduce the amount of glucose in the blood prevent the storage of glucose in the babys body exhaust glycogen stores or inhibit the use of glucose by the body. However these problems may also be due to the underlying cause of the low blood sugar rather than a result of the low blood sugar itself. After birth the baby stores sugar in the heart liver and muscles.
Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic problem in newborns.