Neonatal Hypoglycemia Treatment Thresholds

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a randomized noninferiority trial comparing neurodevelopmental outcomes in newborns with hypoglycemia who were managed using a standard or lower glucose treatment threshold. Eligible participants were newborns born at 1 of 17 hospitals in the Netherlands with one or more of the following risk factors for hypoglycemia: (a) late preterm birth (35–37 weeks’ gestation), (b) small or large for gestational age, or (c) infant of a diabetic mother. Only those with an episode of asymptomatic hypoglycemia (glucose <47 mg/dL) between 3 and 24 hours of age were included in the trial. Newborns meeting these criteria were randomized to either the standard threshold (glucose <47 mg/dL) or a lower threshold (glucose <36 mg/dL) for treatment consisting of either supplemental oral or tube feedings or IV glucose administration.

The primary …