Neonatal hyperinsulinism secondary to maternal intake of high-sugar drinks

The authors report a macrosomic term male infant who developed refractory hyperinsulinism requiring 20 mg/kg/min intravenous dextrose (usual range 4-6 mg/kg/min) and treatment with diazoxide 10 mg/kg/day. His blood insulin level at 6 h of age was 22.3 mU/l (reference range <5 mU/l) with corresponding laboratory blood glucose of 0.3 mmol/l. There was no detected maternal diabetes but the mother revealed she drank 2 l of 'lucozade energy' a day in the past 3 months of pregnancy. The hyperinsulinism resolved by day 7. Transient neonatal hyperinsulinism is known to be associated with maternal diabetes but has not previously been reported as secondary to high maternal sugar intake. This case highlights that significant hypoglycaemia secondary to transient hyperinsulinism can occur in infants of mothers without identified diabetes.