Prematurity Problems: Blood Sugar & Mineral Levels

Glucose , a form of sugar, is the body's main fuel. Hypoglycaemia , or low blood sugar, occurs when blood levels of glucose drop too low to fuel the body's activity. Hypoglycaemia can occur as a complication of diabetes, as a condition in itself, or in association with other disorders.

Carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are the body's main dietary sources of glucose. During digestion, the glucose is absorbed into the blood stream (hence the term "blood sugar"), which carries it to every cell in the body. Unused glucose is stored in the liver as glycogen . [ 1 ]

Hyperglycaemia is the technical term for high blood sugar . High blood sugar happens when the body has too little, or not enough, insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly. [ 2 ]

Hypernatremia is an abnormally high blood sodium concentration.

Hypocalcemia is an abnormally low blood calcium level.

The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken from the following source(s):
1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm
2. American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/