How would glucose intolerance present in infants?

How would glucose intolerance present in infants?

• A. Hypoglycemia
• B. Hyperglycemia and/or hypertriglyceridemia
• C. Normal glucose
• D. Hypocalcemia

Answer: (B)

Glucose intolerance in infants shows up as elevated blood glucose after feeding because the infant’s insulin response isn’t adequately regulating glucose. When insulin action is insufficient or ineffective, glucose remains high. Insulin also helps suppress fat breakdown and promote triglyceride storage, so with impaired insulin action you often see rising triglyceride levels as well. Thus hyperglycemia, and sometimes hypertriglyceridemia, are hallmark presentations. Normal glucose wouldn’t indicate intolerance, and hypoglycemia points to a different metabolic issue. Hypocalcemia is not a typical feature of glucose intolerance.

Glucose intolerance in infants shows up as elevated blood glucose after feeding because the infant’s insulin response isn’t adequately regulating glucose. When insulin action is insufficient or ineffective, glucose remains high. Insulin also helps suppress fat breakdown and promote triglyceride storage, so with impaired insulin action you often see rising triglyceride levels as well. Thus hyperglycemia, and sometimes hypertriglyceridemia, are hallmark presentations. Normal glucose wouldn’t indicate intolerance, and hypoglycemia points to a different metabolic issue. Hypocalcemia is not a typical feature of glucose intolerance.