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Dextrose Gel Does Not Prevent Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Prophylactic Dextrose Gel Does Not Prevent Neonatal Hypoglycemia: a Quasi-experimental Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02523222
Enrollment
236
Registered
2015-08-14
Start date
2016-07-01
Completion date
2018-07-30
Last updated
2025-01-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Complication of Prematurity, Fetal Macrosomia, Hypoglycemia, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Neonatal Hypoglycemia, Premature Birth of Newborn

Keywords

dextrose gel, newborn hypoglycemia, late preterm infant, large for gestational age, small for gestational age, prophylactic, neonatal hypoglycemia

Brief summary

This was a quasi-experimental pilot study comparing blood glucose values 30 minutes after feeding alone or feeding + dextrose gel in newborns at risk for transient neonatal hypoglycemia.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that prophylactic dextrose gel administered to newborns at risk for hypoglycemia will increase the initial blood glucose (BG) concentration after the first feeding and subsequently decrease NICU admissions for treatment of asymptomatic transient neonatal hypoglycemia (TNH) vs those given feedings alone. STUDY DESIGN: This quasi-experimental pilot study allocated asymptomatic at-risk newborns (late preterm, birth weight \<2500 or \>4000 g, and infants of diabetic mothers) to receive prophylactic dextrose gel (Insta-Glucose®); other at-risk newborns served as controls. After the initial feeding, the prophylactic group received dextrose gel (0.5 ml/kg) rubbed into the buccal mucosa, and BG was checked 30 min later. Initial BG concentrations and rate of NICU admissions (for treatment of hypoglycemia) were compared between the prophylactic group and controls using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. A multivariable linear regression compared first BG between groups after adjusting for at-risk categories and age at first BG concentration.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT40% Dextrose gel

40% dextrose gel will be rubbed into the hypoglycemic infant's buccal mucosa at a dose of 0.5ml/kg.

Sponsors

Baylor College of Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Pilot Study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
0 Hours to 1 Hours
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Gestational age above 35 weeks * Infants less than 1 hour of age * Infants with informed parental consent * Infants who are born at the Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital in Houston, TX

Exclusion criteria

* Infants with known metabolic, genetic, or congenital anomalies * Infants not expected to survive the neonatal period * Infants determined later to have a metabolic, genetic, or congenital anomaly that was not immediately obvious in the newborn period * Hypoglycemic infants with symptoms * Infants transferred to the Level 3 NICU for other reasons

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Prophylactic administration of dextrose gel2 hoursGive infants who meet criteria for high-risk and whose parents have consented one dose of prophylactic 40% dextrose gel (0.5ml/kg) after first feed. Assess glucose level after 1 feed and 1 application of dextrose gel, and admission to the NICU, compared to controls with similar risk factors who are not treated prophylactically.
Treatment failure of at-risk infants4 daysInfants at-risk (IDM, late preterm, SGA, LGA, estimated fetal weight below 2.5kg or above 4kg, IUGR, or poor feeding) will be followed until hospital discharge to measure NICU admission data and glucose values during hospitalization.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 7, 2026