Abstract

Background: infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality as well as poor perinatal outcome. Aim:it was to measure how much the staff in the neonatal intensive care unit at Assiut University Children Hospital are sticking to the agreed upon unit′s protocol in management of infants of diabetic mothers. Patients and Methods: twenty five IDMs admitted to NICU with hypoglycemia were included in this study. The unit´s protocol was followed for the management of asymptomatic as well as symptomatic hypoglycemia in IDMs. Results: symptomatic hypoglycemia was present in 76% of IDMs. The rest of cases were asymptomatic hypoglycemia. The unit′s protocol was completely followed in 76% of cases. However serum calcium was not measured in 24% of the cases. Conclusion: most (76%) of our cases of IDMs had symptomatic hypoglycemia. Maternal hyperglycemia is thought to lead to excess fetal glucose exposure and fetal hyperinsulinemia. Recommendation: close liaison with obstetricians in care of diabetic mothers particularly with monthly measurement of HbA1c during pregnancy and during labor with good adjustment and control of the maternal level of blood glucose.

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