Hyperglycaemia in preterm neonates: what to know, what to do

Abstract

Neonatal hyperglycaemia is a frequent complication in VLBW infants during the first week of life. The more common causes include high glucose intake, stress situations such as sepsis, NEC, and surgical treatments, as well as the administration of vasoactive drugs and methylxanthines. The appropriate definition is unclear. Hyperglycaemia has been associated with increased mortality and major morbidities. There have been insufficient randomized clinical trials to help in clarifying which infants should be treated, and there are insufficient data on the pharmacokinetics of insulin in these vulnerable patients.