Early postnatal glucose patterns and risk factors for hypoglycemia in healthy at-risk neonates: A prospective observational study

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence and early postnatal changes in blood glucose, evaluate whether glucose levels within the first six hours predict later hypoglycemia, and assess biochemical patterns in neonates with low glucose. Method ology: A prospective observational study was conducted over one year at the Neonatal Unit and NICU of a tertiary care hospital, Lucknow, India including 450 at-risk but healthy neonates (infants of diabetic mothers, late preterm, SGA/LGA, or low birth weight). Blood glucose was measured at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours using a bedside glucometer, with low readings confirmed in the laboratory. Neonates were clinically monitored and managed as per standard protocols. Maternal, perinatal, and neonatal factors were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results Among 450 neonates, low blood glucose (