How can healthcare providers assess the risk of hypoglycemia in high-risk newborns?

Monitoring blood glucose levels is essential for assessing the risk of hypoglycemia in high-risk newborns. High-risk factors can include conditions such as maternal diabetes, low birth weight, preterm birth, or significant perinatal stress. Regular monitoring helps identify infants who may have low glucose levels early, allowing for prompt intervention to prevent complications associated with hypoglycemia, such as seizures or brain injury.

While observing feeding behavior, performing physical examinations, and checking weight and height can provide some insights into a newborn’s overall health status, they are not direct measures of glycemic status. Only blood glucose monitoring provides the specific information needed to evaluate and manage the risk of hypoglycemia effectively in these vulnerable infants.