Here's what I've been learning about infant hypoglycemia (which is what I get whenever I search for "low blood sugar").
What causes hypoglycemia in a newborn?
Conditions which may be associated to or resultant of hypoglycemia in the newborn:
Hypoglycemia may result in:
The brain depends on blood glucose as its main source of fuel. Too little glucose can impair the brain's ability to function. Severe or prolonged hypoglycemia may result in seizures and serious brain injury.
The following link will answer more questions about this:
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71:hypoglycaemia-of-the-newborn-low-blood-sugar&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
What causes hypoglycemia in a newborn?
Conditions which may be associated to or resultant of hypoglycemia in the newborn:
- inadequate maternal nutrition in pregnancy
- excess insulin produced in a baby of a diabetic mother
- severe hemolytic disease of the newborn
(incompatibility of blood types of mother and baby) - birth defects and congenital metabolic diseases
- birth asphyxia
- cold stress (conditions that are too cold)
- liver disease
Hypoglycemia may result in:
- lowering the amount of glucose in the bloodstream
- preventing or lessening storage of glucose
- using up glycogen stores (sugar stored in the liver)
- inhibiting the use of glucose by the body
The brain depends on blood glucose as its main source of fuel. Too little glucose can impair the brain's ability to function. Severe or prolonged hypoglycemia may result in seizures and serious brain injury.
The following link will answer more questions about this:
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71:hypoglycaemia-of-the-newborn-low-blood-sugar&catid=5:information&Itemid=17
