Sugar Gel can Help Raise Blood Sugar Levels in Newborns

Applying sugar gel on the insides of the cheeks of premature babies can help raise blood sugar levels and prevent future health complications, a new study has found.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland and colleagues who found that premature babies can be given dextrose gel to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar levels. Dextrose gel is cheap and can be easily administered to newborns.

Symptoms of neonatal hypoglycaemia include pale or bluish-colored skin, tremors, irritability or loose and floppy muscles. The condition affects one to three babies per 1,000 births. If left untreated, the condition can affect brain development.

Dextrose gel is already used to treat low blood -sugar levels in people with diabetes, however, there is no evidence that it works in newborns. Currently, babies with hypoglycaemia are fed more than usual and are monitored for any changes in blood-sugar levels. But, many babies are admitted to intensive care units following reports of low blood-sugar and need to be given intravenous glucose.

"Our study is the first report in babies showing that dextrose gel massaged into the inside of the cheek is more effective than feeding alone for treating hypoglycaemia, and is safe and simple to use," said Jane Harding from the University of Auckland, lead author of the study.

"Dextrose gel treatment costs roughly $2 per baby and could help reduce admissions to neonatal intensive care for treatment with intravenous glucose-not only reducing costs but importantly, keeping mothers and babies together to encourage breastfeeding," Harding said in a news release.

The study was based on data of 514 at-risk babies who had completed 35 weeks or more of gestation. These babies were born between 2008 and 2010 and were admitted to the Waikato Women's Hospital in Hamilton, 48 hours after birth. In this group, 242 babies developed hypoglycaemia and were randomly assigned to either get a 40 percent dextrose gel or a placebo gel for six to 48 hours.

Researchers found that the treatment worked. Those babies who got dextrose gel had lower risk of needing other treatments. The team believes that the gel can be used as a first-line treatment for hypoglycaemic babies.

The study is published in the journal The Lancet.                                

"Dextrose gel has been recommended before, roughly 20 years ago, but a previous randomised trial...did not show differences and...for most services, the use of buccal dextrose, even as an emergency stop-gap, has fallen into disuse. We now have high quality evidence that it is of value and should be part of the response to triggering treatment," Dr Neil Marlow from the Institute for Women's Health at University College London said in a linked comment published in the journal.