Although there is still disagreement for levels of blood sugar in the neonates of Caucasian race, they have measured true sugar or glucose in blood of newborn infants since 1911.
Most authors agree that the blood sugar levels in full-term infants tend to decrease during the first few hours of life and only reach levels that would be in the range of normal adult by one or two weeks of age. Much of this confusion results from differences in technics in collecting, precipitating and analyzing the sugar, as well as the duration of fast before sampling.
Author studies the determinations of blood sugar levels from each of 70 full-term normal newborn infants born in Severance Hospital for 3 months from October to December, 1968.
Blood for the sugar determinations by a Somogyi-Nelson micromethod is obtained from a skin punture in the heel of the infants. The 5 times of serial blood sugar determinations from each of 70 newborn infants are made for the first 48 hours. The first sample of blood is taken with the first 2 hours after birth, and subsequent samples are made at 8 to 10 hours fasting, 12 hours and 48 hours at least 3 hours after lest feeding.
The following results are obtained:
1) The average level of blood sugar in 34 cases of male is 46.5±9.6 mg/dl. and in 36 cases of female 47.8±11.7mg/dl. but their difference is not statistically significant. The levels of serial blood sugar determinations were similar in male and female.
2) The average level of blood sugar in relation to birth wieght show 47.7±9.5mg/dl. below 3.20kg. and 46.5±11.9mg/dl over 3.21 kg. but their difference is not statistically significant. The value after 8 to 10 hours fasting in former group decrease markedly.
3) The serial observations of blood sugar in normal neonatea represent a flutuations for 48 hours. The values at birth decrease makedly from 8 to 10 hours-fasting and begin to rise gradually after milk feedings and the blood sugar levels reach a peak about 48 hours later. The blood sugar levels seem to be relateid to fasting period and other factors.
4) The range of blood sugar for the first 48 hours from 350 determinations in 70 neonates is 23 to 98 mg/dl. average value is 47.2±10.8mg/dl. and mean±2 S.D. is 25.6 to 68.8 mg/dl.
5) Low values are obtained in 16 determinations, but no signs of symptomatic hypoglycemia are observed.
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