Hypoglycemia

Bettina Von Dessauer*, Derek S. Wheeler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is increasingly recognized as a significant risk for morbidity and mortality in critically ill and injured children, especially with the recent focus on “tight glucose control” in the pediatric intensive care unit. The lack of adequate energy support in critically ill infants and children with low metabolic reserves is a significant and often underappreciated risk factor, though a variety of other etiologies may be involved. There is no one blood glucose value that defines “hypoglycemia.” Rather, hypoglycemia is considered to represent a spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms that occur within a relatively broad range of blood glucose values that resolve when treated with exogenous glucose. Hypoglycemia is clinically important, as glucose is the most important energy fuel of the body, especially for the brain. As such, glucose homeostasis is normally tightly regulated. Treatment of the underlying disease, early enteral nutrition, basic glucose infusion, avoidance of excessive control of transient stress hyperglycemia may be all important factors to maintain glucose homeostasis and the lowest risk of occurrence of hypoglycemia for the individual patient.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPediatric Critical Care Medicine
Subtitle of host publicationVolume 3: Gastroenterological, Endocrine, Renal, Hematologic, Oncologic and Immune Systems
PublisherSpringer-Verlag London Ltd
Pages103-107
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781447164166
ISBN (Print)9781447164159
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2014

Keywords

  • Children
  • Energy
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Low metabolic reserves Prevention
  • Prudent control
  • Risk
  • Stress response

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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