title: Insulin infusions in infants of birthweight less than 1250 g and with glucose intolerance.
abstract: Fifteen preterm babies (mean gestation: 26.7 weeks; mean birthweight 860 g) with significant glucose intolerance were treated with insulin infusions. During the insulin infusions there was a significant increase in both the mean energy intake (60.8 +/- 25.1 cal/kg per day to 79.9 +/- 24.5 cal/kg per day; P less than 0.001) and the mean amount of intravenous dextrose tolerated (7.0 +/- 2.7 mg/kg per min to 9.2 +/- 2.6 mg/kg per min; P less than 0.01). The infusions were initiated at a mean postnatal age of 5.3 days (range: 2-12 days) and were continued for 1.5-17.5 days. Of the 998 blood glucose estimations performed during the insulin infusions, 28 (2.8%) were less than 2 mmol/l and 216 (21.6%) greater than 8 mmol/l. We conclude that continuous insulin infusion is a safe and effective way of managing glucose intolerance in very low birthweight infants, provided adequate means for continuous monitoring of blood glucose are available.
authors.affiliation: Newborn Unit, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourchier
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose