ABSTRACT
Blood glucose concentration is normally maintained within narrow limits by homeostatic regulation of glucose production and utilization. Hypoglycaemia is a common problem in the newborn period, being particularly associated with prematurity and small size. It is less common in infancy and childhood, but may be the first indication of metabolic or endocrine dysfunction. The exact incidence is difficult to ascertain as there is no consensus over the definition of hypoglycaemia, with glucose concentrations ranging from <1 mmol/l to <4 mmol/l in various textbooks. Repeated hypoglycaemia is a recognized cause of neurological damage, but the level at which this occurs is unclear. Asymptomatic hypoglycaemia has been associated with abnormal sensory evoked responses at levels below 2.6 mmol/l.
