Dextrose Gel for Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Abstract

Abstract Hypoglycemia is the most common metabolic disorder of newborns and has been associated with brain injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The Sugar Babies trial investigated whether treatment with dextrose gel and feeding is more effective than placebo gel and feeding for reversal of hypoglycemia in at-risk babies. One hundred eighteen neonates were enrolled in the dextrose group and 119 in the placebo group. Dextrose gel reduced the frequency of treatment failure compared with placebo (14% versus 24%; relative risk 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.98, p = 0.04). No adverse events associated with dextrose gel were noted. This treatment could be considered for first-line management of neonatal hypoglycemia.