• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Find A Doctor
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home / Health Conditions / Preterm Birth / Low Blood Sugar In Newborns Tied To Brain Problems Later

Low Blood Sugar In Newborns Tied To Brain Problems Later

African American father holding newborn babyLow blood sugar affects about one in six newborns, and new research suggests it could lead to brain difficulties in childhood.

Babies who experience low blood sugar at or near birth are at least two to three times more likely to face problems with planning, memory, attention, problem-solving and visual-motor coordination by the age of 4.5, New Zealand researchers said.

The low blood sugar (glucose) did not affect general thinking function or IQ, but it did affect problem-solving and other skills known as “executive functioning,” and also eye-hand coordination, the findings showed. These are crucial for many tasks, said study leader Chris McKinlay. He is a neonatologist at the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland.

“We don’t know fully what this means for learning,” McKinlay said. “We think this may have an effect on educational achievement.”

You May Also Like
9 Foods You Should Never Eat after Age 30

Low blood sugar in newborns, known as “neonatal hypoglycemia,” is the most common preventable cause of brain damage in infancy. Those at risk of low blood sugar include babies born prematurely, those small or large for their gestational age, and those born to mothers with diabetes.

For these high-risk infants, it is common to do a blood glucose test, using a heel prick. If the level is too low, the child can be treated with a form of sugar to return it to normal levels.

Continue Reading

The Latest In Preterm Birth

Why Is The Black Infant Mortality Rate So High?

Although recent technological advances have decreased infant mortality rates (IMR) globally, the U.S. rate is still alarming compared to other developed countries. The situation is even worse for black babies. Findings from Duke’s Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity read more about Why Is The Black Infant Mortality Rate So High?

Moms Who Smoked as Teens More Likely to Deliver Smaller Babies

After falling 8 percent from 2007 to 2014, the preterm rate has increased for the second year in a row according to new data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Some of the reasons for these statistics include: read more about Moms Who Smoked as Teens More Likely to Deliver Smaller Babies

It’s A Miracle! World’s Smallest Baby Survives!

Weighing less than a small apple and a size smaller than a kid's juice box, Baby Saybe came into the world officially as the world's smallest baby. Tipping the scales at just a measly 8.6 ounces, that's barely half a read more about It’s A Miracle! World’s Smallest Baby Survives!

Aggressive Prenatal Care to Help Battle Preterm Births

Over 200,000 women go into preterm birth each year, oftentimes leading to health issues for both mother and baby. Factors like age, weight, medical conditions, stress, and lifestyle all can contribute to risk for preterm labor. One of the most read more about Aggressive Prenatal Care to Help Battle Preterm Births

Kaleb “Baby Buns”: The 13oz Miracle

It's been four years since Kaleb Arkell Graves, better known as "Baby Buns" got to go home and start life after a year of being in the hospital. If you remember Kaleb is the child of Dana and Arkell Graves, read more about Kaleb “Baby Buns”: The 13oz Miracle

How To Deal With 4 Common Pregnancy Complications

Being pregnant is a magical, glorious time for many women. You get to spend nearly a year bonding with yourself and your unborn child. Truthfully speaking though, not everyone has a flawless experience with pregnancy. When I went in for read more about How To Deal With 4 Common Pregnancy Complications

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Rihanna: The Healthy “Thick” Weight PlanRihanna: The Healthy "Thick" Weight Plan
  • 10 Cities With The Highest HIV Rates10 Cities With The Highest HIV Rates
  • Mrs. Parker From ‘Friday’ at 70 & Still Turning Heads!Mrs. Parker From 'Friday' at 70 & Still Turning Heads!
  • Best-Selling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey, Dead at 59Best-Selling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey, Dead at 59
  • 14 Most-Overlooked HIV Symptoms14 Most-Overlooked HIV Symptoms

Podcast

Diabetes prevention and management podcast

Dr. LeNoir is joined by Dr. Lenore Coleman, a Pharmacist and Founder of Healing Our Village, as they offer you the tools you need to prevent and manage diabetes.

Listen Now

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2021, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.