Prevalence of Hypoglycemia in Infants of Diabetic Mothers Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tobruk Medical Center

Purpose: Neonatal hypoglycemia is a frequent metabolic complication among infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs), primarily due to maternal hyperglycemia-induced fetal hyperinsulinemia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypoglycemia in IDMs admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Tobruk Medical Center (TMC) and identify associated maternal and neonatal factors. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 101 IDMs admitted to the NICU between April 2023 and April 2024. Maternal data (diabetes type, glycemic control, obstetric history) and neonatal parameters (hypoglycemia, birth weight, Apgar scores, comorbidities) were extracted from medical records. Hypoglycemia was defined as blood glucose <35 mg/dL within the first 72 hours of life. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and independent t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Hypoglycemia occurred in 75.2% of IDMs. The cohort was nearly evenly split between pre-gestational (48.5%) and gestational diabetes (51.5%) mothers. Infants of pre-gestational diabetic mothers had lower mean glucose levels (36.61 mg/dL) compared to those of gestational diabetic mothers (43.67 mg/dL), though not statistically significant (p=0.063). Cesarean deliveries were common (69.3%), with 58.4% of infants being large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and 20.8% experiencing respiratory distress. Intravenous dextrose was required in 52.5% of cases. Conclusion: Hypoglycemia remains highly prevalent among IDMs, highlighting the critical need for optimal maternal glycemic control during pregnancy and vigilant neonatal glucose monitoring postpartum. The observed glucose differences between diabetes types merit further investigation to guide targeted interventions.