Diet for Hypoglycemia

Can hypoglycemia be treated in babies and how long does it usually take if it does?

Can hypoglycemia be treated in babies and if it does how long does it take? My baby weighed 8 lbs when he was born and has been in the hospital for 11 days now. Can it be treated? Am I over reacting, I cry alot and just want him to come home already?

Public Comments

1. I can imagine you wanting the little one to come home and I hope this will be soon. Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose - sugar - will be treated with ensuring that he is well nourished. They will do heel sticks to ensure that it (glucose) is maintained. The sugars in formula or breast milk can remedy this however, if it will not be maintained on it's own they will probably have to try another method. Also, they will ensure that the baby remains warm which includes the cap, swaddling of blanket to stay on so the warmth won't go out through his scalp or body which can cause a baby to be hypoglycemic also because brown fat uses energy (burns off glucose) to keep the little one warm if they get cold and need to use it. Based on the info that you have given, this is a little info to give you some lead on what is going on.
2. This is probably a question best answered by your baby's doctors. They would know his health history best and can give you the information your need. Typically, hypoglycemia is a term used when your blood sugar is low. Eating frequent, small meals often helps. Hypoglycemia is often related to diabetes. Did you have Gestational Diabetes? If so, it is not uncommon for the baby to have some problems with low blood sugar after birth. Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals can be busy people and you have to sometimes speak up and ask questions. Sometimes they think they may have explained something so you'll understand or sometimes they will assume another doctor or nurse told you what was going on. You are going to have to be your baby's best advocate now. Go to the hospital, ask questions, and find out if there are support services available such as a social worker who can help you through your concern or a support group with other parents who are going through the same thing. Your son's health care providers can help you, but they need to know you are worried, concerned, and want to know what is happening with your son.
3. I understand completely my lil guy was born wednesday 9/17/08 and was on iv sugar for 3 days.I was told because of me being diabetic his blood sugar was too,low.It got better the last 48 hrs as he ate more.Now he has jaundice. So he is still in hospital hurts me and dad daily to leave him to take care of other kids.home and in dad's case work.But they are strong and we have to be too.Ask the dr some hard questions get serious and demand to know what treatments are available.I wish much success and love.And when you see him next give him and extra squeeze from me.Keep in touch
4. Calm down. My brother and I were both born with hypoglycemia; both of us are in our 20's and reasonably healthy :) He's un-naturally tall, but that's another story :p Of all the things for them to catch in that newborn screening, this is by far one of the better problems to have - it's easily managed. The great news is that they caught it in the hospital! :) My mom fought for 2 days to get them to test us. We have never needed meds, it's managed totally through diet. Both of us have always needed frequent small meals. Neither of us can have a lot of sugar (like soda), and we both have to watch eating too many carbs. Sugar and carbs won't like, kill us, we just crash after about an hour. Veggies and fruit and lean protien are the best things to eat. I have learned to feel when my sugar is low and eat. In elementary school, I fainted a few times til I got the hang of it. Once I did, I was totally fine; the nurse kept yougert and fruit for me in case I needed to eat. It's not, like some horrific condition. None of the kids ever knew. Talk to your doctor. I'm sure they have some good feeding tips and ways to treat it. My mom, brother and I have this for life, but some types of hypoglycemia are transient, meaning they are fixed and don't come back. Before you take your son home, make them talk to you and explain everything and tell you what you need to do in his case. I'm sure he's gonna be fine. The other poster is right, MAKE them tell you what kind of hypoglycemia it is. Like is is related to diabetes, just a thing that happend cuz he was born (my cousins had low sugar after taking 3 days to be born...), or is it a freak genetic thing like mine.... (missing some enzyme...). Oh, and btw, Congrats!!! :) :) :)