Effectiveness of hospital-based oral dextrose gel in prevention and treatment of asymptomatic newborns at risk of hypoglycemia

Figures & data

Figure 1. Dextrose gel application protocol for newborns at-risk of hypoglycemia.

Abbreviations. LGA: large for gestational age; CBG: capillary blood glucose; h: hour; IV: intravenous; SCN: special care nursery.

Figure 2. Study flow.

Abbreviations. DG: dextrose gel; SCN: special care nursery.

Table 1. Maternal and neonatal baseline characteristics.

Baseline characteristics	Before 40% DG implementation (n = 320)	After 40% DG implementation (n = 323)	p-value
Maternal baseline characteristics
1. Age (years)	34.6 ± 3.7	35.1 ± 3.5	0.068
2. Gestational age (weeks)	38.6 ± 1.0	38.5 ± 0.9	0.834
3. Diabetic status*			0.669
-Non-diabetic	18 (5.6)	23 (7.1)
-GDMA1	284 (88.8)	280 (86.7)
-GDMA2	17 (5.3)	17 (5.3)
Overt DM	1 (0.3)	3 (0.9)
4. Treatment of diabetic mother			0.694
-Diet control	284 (94)	280 (93.3)
-Insulin treatment	18 (6)	20 (6.7)
5. CBG before delivery (mmol/L)	4.9 ± 0.7	4.9 ± 0.8	0.850
6. Cesarean delivery	246 (76.9)	282 (87.3)	0.002
Neonatal baseline characteristics
1. Male sex	170 (53.1)	183 (50.5)	0.500
2. Birth weight (grams)	3127 ± 452.8	3155.6 ± 469.5	0.448
3. Weight for gestation			0.351
-AGA	254 (79.4)	248 (76.8)
-SGA	41 (12.8)	39 (12.1)
-LGA	25 (7.8)	36 (11.1)
4. Macrosomia (birth weight ≥ 4000 grams)	15 (4.7)	18 (5.6)	0.611
5. Late preterm	19 (5.9)	12 (3.7)	0.188
6. Apgar score at 5 min	9 (9–10)	9 (9–10)	0.920

Abbreviations. DG, dextrose gel; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; DM, diabetes mellitus; CBG, capillary blood glucose; AGA, appropriate for gestational age; SGA, small for gestational age; LGA, large for gestational age.

* GDMA1 and GDMA2 defined as gestational diabetes controlled by diet and insulin administration, respectively and overt DM defined as pre-gestational diabetes.

Data are shown as number (%), mean (standard deviation), or median (interquartile range).

Table 2. Primary and secondary outcomes.

Outcomes	Before 40% DG implementation (n = 320)	After 40% DG implementation (n = 323)	p value
1. Incidence of hypoglycemia	57 (17.8)	47 (14.6)	0.261
Asymptomatic hypoglycemia	26/57 (45.6)	36/47 (76.6)	0.002
2. First CBG concentration (mmol/L)	3.1 ± 1.0	3.1 ± 0.9	0.499
3. Intravenous dextrose administration	33 (10.3)	11 (3.4)	< 0.001
4. LOS in the SCN owing to management of hypoglycemia	1.2 ± 0.4	0.9 ± 0.1	0.018
5. Total LOS (days)	3.2 ± 0.9	3.2 ± 0.8	0.861

Abbreviations. DG, dextrose gel; CBG, capillary blood glucose; SCN, special care nursery; LOS, length of stay.

Data are number (%) or mean (standard deviation).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author at [email protected] (Dr. Pracha Nuntnarumit).