Final answer:
The best initial feeding for a hypoglycemic infant of a diabetic mother is breastfeeding, as it provides nutrients and immunological benefits. If breastfeeding is not possible, formula feeding may be considered and intravenous feeding is typically reserved for severe cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an infant of a mother with diabetes is found to be hypoglycemic, the initial type of feeding that should be instituted first is breastfeeding (b). Breastfeeding not only provides the necessary nutrients including glucose but also facilitates mother-child bonding and offers immunological benefits through colostrum, which boosts the newborn's immune system. In situations where breastfeeding is not immediately possible, other interventions such as formula feeding may be considered. Intravenous feeding or dextrose may be necessary only in severe cases where other feeding methods are unable to normalize the infant's blood glucose levels effectively.
Laura, who has Type 1 diabetes, has a deficiency in insulin production, which is a hormonal response. The rise in blood glucose levels, which is a humoral stimulus, should trigger the release of insulin from the pancreas, but in Laura's case, this does not occur since her body cannot produce insulin. Therefore, insulin injections are used in Type 1 diabetes management to aid in the transport and storage of glucose, especially after meals with higher glucose content, to regulate blood sugar levels.