HYOPGLYCEMIA BIRTH INJURY:

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which a person's blood glucose levels fall below normal levels to a level that causes the brain not to function normally.  As a result, the brain shuts down functions that it does not feel are necessary which can result in varied reactions including loss of cognitive function, speech problems, and anxiety attacks, among others. 

As symptoms are sometimes mild and resolve after eating foods or fluids containing carbohydrates, hypoglycemia can often go undiagnosed. However, some more serious health issues can lead to hypoglycemia including liver or pancreatic problems and diabetes mellitus.  It is important that hypoglycemia be diagnosed early to ensure that there are not more serious issues involved during the pregnancy. 

Mother's Hypoglycemia

Symptoms of hypoglycemia during pregnancy are similar and include shaking, sweating, hot flashes, anxiety attacks, intense hunger, dizziness, headache, confusion, vision difficulties and sudden irritability. Hypoglycemia in pregnancy is usually not diagnosed until labor though symptoms may be present before that time.   Hypoglycemia should be treated immediately on noticing symptoms to prevent effects such as low blood sugar and hypoglycemia in the unborn child.  In diabetics, the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal macrosomia (high birth weight), congenital malformation increases with worsening glycaemic control. Unfortunately treatment can be difficult as often pregnant women are prone to dizzy spells and loss of consciousness. 

Preventative care includes proper nutrition and evenly spaced meals, which often includes consultations with a physician and dietician to ensure adequate glucose levels are maintained throughout the day for the duration of the pregnancy.

The Child's Hypoglycemia

Neonatal hypoglycemia occurs when a newborn child's blood sugar drops to an abnormally low level. The appropriate levels change with age but, by way of example,normal glucose level for a 40 minutes old child is approximately 40 mg/dL. Low blood sugar can cause brain starvation at a time when children need brain developement the most. From the doctor's standpoint, there is no sign that the child is injured - you have to see the hypoglycemia coming.

How Do You Know Whether Your Child Suffered a Hypoglycemia Birth Injury

Initially, It is hard to know whether your child has a birth injury. The first sign is delays in reaching
certain developmental milestones. But children miss milestones for many reasons, many of which are harmless and will resolve quickly or over time. . Certainly, if there is evidence in the child's records that suggest the possibility of a brain injury and there are signifcant delays in meeting milestones, the child may get a MRI that looks to see if there is loss of white matter loss in the brain. Birth injuries from hypoglycemia often show on an MRI as "diffuse lesions" in the brain. Periventricular leukomalacia is a brain injury that can be caused by hypoglycemia. But it is the most common ischemic brain injury in premature infants so medical experts are critical to sorting out whether the injury was from hypoglycemia. . Another possible sign of hypoglycemia brain injury: some experts say that hypoglycemia injuries tend to be occipital injuries.

Malpractice Settlements and Lawsuits Involving Birth Injuries from Hypoglycemia

If you believe you child has a brain injury from hypoglycemia, you may have a medical malpractice case for which you and your child could receive compensation. If so, call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation to find out if our law firm can be of help to you.