Abstract
Development of improved technologies in neonatal care has yielded increasing numbers of surviving low birth weight (LBW) infants who have challenged methods of supportive care. As researchers and practitioners have focused on respiratory, cardiac, and other body system requirements, nutritional support has been low on the priority list. Support for growth and maximized neurologic development, rather than simply for survival, has been the challenge in care of small and sick newborns. Use of insulin to enhance glucose tolerance in LBW infants, and thereby maximize growth, is a management modality that can be initiated early in the infant's course and is facilitated by implementation of clear and consistent policies and procedures. Continuous insulin infusions have been demonstrated to enhance glucose uptake and utilization--facilitating neonatal growth and in turn enhancing brain growth and developmental outcome.
MeSH terms
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Drug Monitoring / methods
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Drug Monitoring / nursing
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Female
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Glucose Intolerance / drug therapy*
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Glucose Intolerance / metabolism
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Glucose Intolerance / nursing
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Growth Disorders / drug therapy*
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Growth Disorders / metabolism
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Growth Disorders / nursing
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Humans
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Hyperglycemia / drug therapy*
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Hyperglycemia / metabolism
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Hyperglycemia / nursing
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Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage*
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Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
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Infant, Low Birth Weight / growth & development*
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Infant, Low Birth Weight / metabolism
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Infant, Newborn
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Infant, Premature, Diseases / drug therapy*
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Infant, Premature, Diseases / metabolism
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Infant, Premature, Diseases / nursing
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Infusions, Intravenous / methods
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Infusions, Intravenous / nursing
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Insulin / administration & dosage*
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Insulin / pharmacology
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Male
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Neonatal Nursing / methods
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Nurse's Role
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Time Factors
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Weight Gain / drug effects
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Weight Gain / physiology
Substances
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Hypoglycemic Agents
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Insulin