Real time continuous glucose monitoring in neonatal intensive care

Abstract

Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia are common in infants requiring intensive care and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. However, glucose levels are taken infrequently, and there remains controversy regarding optimal management. In adults and children continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is now established as an important adjunct to caring for patients at risk from dysglycaemia. This technology is also increasingly providing insights into glucose regulation in the newborn, demonstrating significant periods of clinically silent hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. This baseline data will be important to allow the significance of glucose dysregulation on long-term outcomes to be assessed. Small studies have also shown the potential for CGM to safely support targeting of glucose control in preterm infants, and a large multicentre trial is ongoing. Current technology is not specifically designed for use in NICU, but with rapid technological developments, CGM holds promise for the future care of babies in NICU.