Use of glucose gel in the treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia

• Grant number: 19/09898-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition
• Principal Investigator: Raphael Del Roio Liberatore Junior
• Grantee: Lara Dias de Azevedo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common occurrence as it affects 5% to 15% of healthy newborn babies, and can cause brain injury and irreversible damage to the baby's neurodevelopment in the long run. Glucose serum treatment is the most commonly used, in which an amount of 200mg / dL of 10% dextrose solution in water is injected into the baby at the rate of 6-8mg / min / kg.If hypoglycaemia episodes still persist with continuous glucose infusion, coadjuvant drugs for treatment, such as glucocorticoid hyperglycemic hormones and glucagon, are used. Another option for treating neonatal hypoglycemia is the 40% glucose gel, offered orally to the newborn, which is a non-invasive, easy-to-administer, low-cost method and allows the child to stay close to the without the need to receive intravenous glucose. In this way, breastfeeding is not impaired.