TRANSIENT NEONATAL DIABETES-MELLITUS OR AN EXAGGERATED STEROID-RESPONSE - A CASE-STUDY

Hyperglycemia is a common finding in the extremely premature neonate, especially during the first several days of Life. Premature neonates h ave difficulty maintaining normal blood glucose levels in spite of nor mal or below-normal glucose infusion rates. Some infants experience in termittent episodes of hyperglycemia throughout the course of hospital ization that typically can be related to infection, medications, overi nfusion of glucose, or episodes of stress. Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) is an uncommon diagnosis that is utilized when other reasons for the hyperglycemia cannot be determined. The article presen ts a case study describing an episode of hyperglycemia that could have been TNDM or an exaggerated response to the use of dexamethasone.