What You Need to Know If Your Child Has Pediatric Hypoglycemia

Pediatric hypoglycemia is when your child’s blood sugar dips too low. It’s usually not serious, and you can treat it with a source of fast-acting sugar.

Hypoglycemia is the term for when blood sugar is low. Low blood sugar can happen to adults or children.

It’s most likely to happen in someone with diabetes who takes insulin to manage blood sugar. Sometimes, a child without diabetes can have a low blood sugar level for other reasons, such as not eating enough or having other health conditions.

There are things you can do to prevent and treat low blood sugar in children.

Learn more about hypoglycemia.

What is pediatric hypoglycemia?

Normally, your child’s body wants to keep the amount of sugar in the bloodstream in a specific range. This sugar provides fuel for your child’s brain and body. When your child’s blood sugar level drops below normal, it’s called hypoglycemia.

It’s most likely to happen in a child who takes insulin as part of managing diabetes . A child without diabetes might also have low blood sugar, but it’s not as common.

What are the symptoms of pediatric hypoglycemia?

The symptoms of pediatric hypoglycemia can vary, depending on how low your child’s blood sugar is. They might include:

• dizziness or lightheadedness
• irritability
• fast heart rate
• low energy
• hunger
• confusion
• pale skin

When is pediatric hypoglycemia an emergency?

Most of the time, you can help your child treat their hypoglycemia at home. As long as your child is conscious, you can help them eat or drink a source of sugar to get their blood sugar level back into a normal range.

In rare cases, you may need to call 911 or seek emergent medical attention. If your child’s not responsive or unable to eat or drink a source of sugar, they might need an injection of glucagon. Glucagon ( GlucaGen ) is a hormone that a doctor must prescribe. It helps release stored sugar in your child’s body.

If your child has diabetes, you might have glucagon and know how to use it. If you don’t have glucagon, or if your child is still unresponsive after getting a dose of glucagon, seek medical attention.

What causes pediatric hypoglycemia?

Pediatric hypoglycemia is most likely to happen in a child with diabetes who uses insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.

Possible causes of low blood sugar in a child with diabetes include:

• skipping a meal or eating less than is typical
• being more active than usual
• being ill
• taking too much insulin or taking it too early before a meal

In a child without diabetes, low blood sugar is less likely to happen , but it’s still possible. If your child isn’t eating enough to meet their energy needs or due to illness, they could end up with hypoglycemia.

How is pediatric hypoglycemia diagnosed?

If your child has diabetes, you may first notice symptoms of low blood sugar. You can confirm this by doing a blood sugar check or looking at their continuous glucose monitoring reading. Hypoglycemia is when the blood sugar level drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter . Some children may feel symptoms of low blood sugar even if their blood sugar is above that level.

If you’re not able to check your child’s blood sugar level, but your child is showing symptoms of hypoglycemia, it’s a good idea to treat it.

If your child doesn’t have diabetes but experiences symptoms of low blood sugar, their doctor will discuss their history and look for patterns. Your child may have bloodwork done to check their blood sugar or insulin levels.

What’s the treatment for pediatric hypoglycemia?

Much of the time, you’ll be able to treat your child’s low blood sugar level at home.

To raise their blood sugar level back to a typical range, it’s best to give them a quick-acting source of sugar. For most children, about 15 grams (g) of sugar can treat hypoglycemia.

Some options are:

• half a cup of juice or regular soda, like pop or cola
• glucose or dextrose tablets, though check the package to confirm the amount to take
• 1 tablespoon of table sugar or honey
• candy, though check the package and give your child an amount that provides around 15 g of sugar, and beware that some candy may be a choking hazard

After you give your child a source of sugar, wait 15 minutes, then check their blood sugar again to make sure it’s back to normal.

What’s the outlook for people with pediatric hypoglycemia?

Most of the time, low blood sugar isn’t serious. Hypoglycemia is easily treatable with a source of sugar to boost your child’s blood sugar level.

If your child is having frequent low blood sugar, it’s a good idea to discuss this with their healthcare team. There may be strategies to reduce how often this happens.

Frequently asked questions

What is the rule of 50 for pediatric hypoglycemia?

The rule of 50 is a calculation that a healthcare professional may use to determine the right amount of dextrose to give via intravenous delivery (IV) to a child in a medical setting. It’s not something you’d use to treat hypoglycemia at home.

When is hypoglycemia an emergency?

Hypoglycemia is an emergency if your child’s blood sugar has dropped too low and they’re not responding. If this happens, seek emergency medical care.

Takeaway

Pediatric hypoglycemia is when a child’s blood sugar level drops below the typical range. In most cases, it’s not serious and is treatable with a source of sugar.

Children who take insulin to manage diabetes are most likely to have hypoglycemia. But it’s possible for a child without diabetes to have low blood sugar.

If your child is experiencing frequent low blood sugar episodes, it’s best to discuss this with their healthcare team.