Hypoglycemia is the most frequent metabolic abnormality in the newborn, but no consensus exists on what level of blood glucose is able to protect the brain and influence the child’s neural development and which is the best course of management in cases labeled as hypoglycemia. Early diagnosis, urgent treatment, and prevention of future episodes of hypoglycemia are the cornerstones of management, now supported by recent advances in molecular genetics and in our understanding of the pathophysiology of neonatal hypoglycemia, particularly the pathogenesis of congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.
Part of the book: Selected Topics in Neonatal Care