Question

A mother asks the neonatal nurse why her infant must be monitored for hypoglycemia when her type 1 diabetes was in excellent control during her pregnancy. How should the nurse respond?

A. Newborns' glucose levels drop after birth so we are especially cautious with your baby because of your diabetes.
B. Newborns' pancreases produce increased amounts of insulin during the first day of birth so we are checking to see if hypoglycemia has occurred.
C. Babies of mothers with diabetes do not have a large supply of glucose stores at birth, so it is difficult for them to maintain their blood glucose levels within an acceptable range.
D. Babies of mothers with diabetes have a higher than average insulin level because of the excess glucose received from their mothers during pregnancy, so their glucose level may drop

Answer 1

The infants of mothers with diabetes are monitored for hypoglycemia because they may have higher insulin levels from the excess maternal glucose during pregnancy, which can cause their glucose levels to drop after birth.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the mother's question regarding monitoring her infant for hypoglycemia despite her excellent control of type 1 diabetes during pregnancy, the correct answer is D. Babies of mothers with diabetes have a higher than average insulin level because of the excess glucose received from their mothers during pregnancy, so their glucose level may drop.

After birth, the infant's own insulin production may continue to be high due to the previous high levels of glucose from the mother, while the supply of glucose is no longer being supplied through the placenta. This can lead to a rapid drop in the newborn's blood sugar levels, requiring careful monitoring to prevent hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous if not promptly addressed.