HYPOGLYCEMIA IS COMMON IN PRETERM INFANTS IN INTENSIVE-CARE

The blood glucose concentration was measured once daily during the fir st five days of life in forty appropriate-for-gestational age preterm infants in intensive care. They received human milk and 10 % glucose p erorally and intravenously. Moderate hypoglycemia (B-Gluc < 2.5 mmol/l ) was common in these infants (42 %) during the first three days of li fe. Four infants had severe hypoglycemia (B-Gluc < 0.6 mmol/l) during the first day of life. These data suggest that screening for hypoglyce mia will be needed for optimal treatment in preterm infants in intensi ve care.