Which population has a hypoglycemia threshold lower than adults?

• A. Adults
• B. Normal full-term infants
• C. Preterm or low birth weight infants
• D. Children

Answer: (C)

Hypoglycemia threshold is the blood glucose level at which energy failure of the brain or hypoglycemic symptoms begin to appear, and this level varies with age and maturity. In preterm or low birth weight infants, metabolic and regulatory systems are immature: liver glycogen stores are limited, gluconeogenesis is not fully developed, and hormonal counterregulation is immature. Because of these factors, these infants tend to reach the point where glucose is insufficient at a lower concentration than adults. In other words, their brain can be affected at lower glucose levels, so the hypoglycemia threshold is lower than in adults. This is why preterm or low birth weight infants require careful monitoring for hypoglycemia even when glucose levels would be considered acceptable in adults.