Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

Hypoglycemia and the ABC'S (sugar) of pediatric resuscitation

J D Losek1

  • 1Emergency Department, Children's Hospitals and Clinics-St. Paul, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA. Joseph.Losek@Childrenshc.org

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|December 30, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Hypoglycemia is common in children needing resuscitation, with 18% affected. Early glucose testing is vital, as low blood sugar increases mortality risk in pediatric emergency care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Critical Care Pediatrics
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Hypoglycemia is a critical condition in pediatric resuscitation.
  • Clinical signs of hypoglycemia in children are often non-specific.
  • Prompt recognition and management are essential for improved outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of hypoglycemia in children receiving resuscitation.
  • To identify clinical variables associated with hypoglycemia in this population.
  • To evaluate the impact of hypoglycemia on mortality rates.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study design was employed.
  • Rapid glucose testing was prospectively integrated into resuscitation protocols.
  • Clinical data were retrospectively collected from chart reviews.
  • The study included children (birth to 20 years) requiring resuscitation in an urban children's hospital emergency department.

Main Results:

  • 18% of children (9 out of 49) receiving resuscitation care were hypoglycemic (glucose ≤40 mg/dL).
  • The median time to glucose testing was 11 minutes.
  • Hypoglycemic children had a significantly higher mortality rate (P =.015).
  • Septic shock was present in four of the hypoglycemic children.

Conclusions:

  • Routine, rapid serum glucose assessment is recommended for all children requiring resuscitation.
  • Hypoglycemia is a frequent and serious complication in critically ill children.
  • Consider adding 'S' for sugar to the ABC mnemonic (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to enhance physician awareness.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test06:59

Characterization of Metabolic Status in Nonhuman Primates with the Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test

Published on: November 13, 2016

A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli08:01

A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli

Published on: August 12, 2016

Related Concept Videos

SBAR II: Application of SBAR01:14

SBAR II: Application of SBAR

SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose01:16

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management01:25

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management

Pharmacologic intervention is crucial in treating cardiac arrest patients during ACLS or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The ACLS algorithms guide the administration of specific drugs based on the patient's cardiac arrest rhythm, which includes pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).EpinephrineIndication: Epinephrine is the first-line drug for all cardiac arrest rhythms.Mechanism of Action: Epinephrine...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...