The hypoglycaemic child

Headline
History ➥ last food and drink
➥ poisoning e.g. alcohol, beta-blocker
➥ neonatal history
➥ growth + development
➥ history of miscarriage/SIDS
Examination RR, fetor, hepatomegaly, weakness
Diagnostic investigations - true blood glucose, LFT, VBG
- bedside ketones
Consider:
- beta-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, carnitine
- insulin, C-peptide, amino acids
- cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone
- ammonia, lactate, pyruvate
- alcohol, tox screen
Differentials IEM...
Immediate management ➥ 2-5ml/kg 10% glucose
➥ Check CBG after 5 mins
➥ Start glucose infusion 5mg/kg/min if not normalised
➥ Glucogel, glucagon (may not work with glycogen storage disorders)
Ongoing management

Neonatal hypoglycaemia

Definition: glucose <2 mmol/L
History Risk factors: Prematurity, IUGR, cold stress, asphyxia, sepsis
Examination Jitteriness, afebrile seizure
Diagnostic investigations finger-prick glucose <2.6mmol/L; temperature, exclude poisoning
Differentials
Immediate management Feed then repeat CBG until >3
If ↓ consciousness etc:
➥ 2ml/kg 10% dextrose IV + 10% dextrose maintenance dose
➥ repeat sugar 10 min after bolus
Ongoing management

Hypoglycaemic screen

  • true blood glucose, LFT, VBG
  • bedside ketones
  • beta-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, carnitine
  • insulin, C-peptide, amino acids
  • cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone
  • ammonia, lactate, pyruvate
  • alcohol, tox screen