Skip to main content
Log in

A study of blood glucose level in the newborn—From birth to 7 days

  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Blood sugar values have been determined by the method of Sharmaet al. in three groups of newborns viz., normal, small for date and preterm. The values in small for date babies were significantly different from normal ones.

The small for date babies showed the lowest mean blood glucose value of 32 mg percent at age 13 to 18 hours and preterm newborns also had a mean value of 31.8 mg percent at the same age. The rate of fall of blood glucose was faster in small for date neonates.

Males had slightly less blood glucose values than females and birth weight as such had no significant effect on blood glucose value. Preterm babies had a group mean value of 39.8 mg percent as compared to 47.2 mg percent in term babies.

The mean blood glucose value was higher by a factor of 1.6 mg percent in femoral vein blood as compared to a heel prick sample.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baens, G.S., Lundeen, E. and Cornblath, M. (1963). Studies of Carbohydrate metabolism in the newborn infant. VI. Levels of glucose in blood in premature infants.Paediatrics,31, 580.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blum, D., Dodion, J., Loeb, H., Wilkin, P. and Hubinont, P.O. (1969). Studies on hypoglycemia in small for date newborns.Arch. Dis. Child. 44, 304.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R.J.K. and Wallis, P.G. (1963). Hypoglycemia in the newborn infants.Lancet 1, 1278.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, M.A., Furgeuson, I.C., Hutchison, J.H. and Kerr, M.M. (1967). Diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycacmia in newborn.Arch. Dis. Child. 42, 353.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornblath, M., Joassim, G., Weiss, K.B. and Swietak, K.R. (1966). Hypoglycemia in newborn.Pediatr. Cin. North Amer. 13, 905.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornblath, M.L., Levin, E.V. and Gordon, H.H. (1956). Studies of carbohydrate metabolism in the newborn.Pediatrics 18, 167.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornblath, M., Odel, G.B. and Levin, E.V. (1959). Symptomatic hypoglycemia associated with toxaemia of pregnancy.J. Pediatr. 55, 545.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corublath, M. and Ressner, S.A. (1965). Blood glucose in the neonates and its clinical significance.N. Engl. J. Med. 273, 38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etheridge, J.E. (1967). Hypoglycemia and the central nervous system.Pediatr. Clin. North Amer. 14, 865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, J.C. (1965). Carbohydrate metabolism in foetus and newborn.Pediatr. Clin. North Amer. 12, 573.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, J.C., Billing, L. and Youmoozai, M.K. (1967). Relation of blood glucose to haematocrit, birth weight and other body measurements in normal and growth retarded newborn infants.Lancet,2, 901.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karan, S., Sachi Devi, P. and Laxman, S. (1975). Hypolycemia in the newborn with special reference to starvation and feeding on blood glucose levels in low birth weight and full sized infants during the first 24 hours of life.Indian Pediatr. 12, 469.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKittrick, J.B. (1940). Serial blood sugar determinations in the normal Newborn infants.J. Pediatr. 16, 151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pildes, R., Forbs, A.E., O'Connor, S.M. and Cornblath, M. (1967). The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia—a complete survey.J. Pediatr. 70, 76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shelly, H.J. (1964). Carbohydrate reserves in the newborn infant.Br. Med. J. 1, 273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelly, H.J. and Neligan, G.A. (1966). Neonatal hypoglycemia.Br. Med. Bull. 22, 34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, N.C., Sur, B.K. and Shukla, R.K. (1972). A simplified technique for estimation of blood glucose.Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 16, 349.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stur, O. (1964).Biologia. Neonat. 6, 38—Quoted by Shellyet al. 1966.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villee, C.A. (1953). The regulation of blood glucose in human foetus.J. Appl. Physiol. 5, 437.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watcher, H.E. (1966). Quoted by Shellyet al. Br. Med. Bull. 22, 34.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

From the Department of Paediatrics and Biochemistry, Medical College, Kanpur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bhalla, M., Srivastava, J.R., Bhalla, J.N. et al. A study of blood glucose level in the newborn—From birth to 7 days. Indian J Pediatr 45, 11–17 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02749456

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02749456

Keywords

Navigation