Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in very low birth weight newborns needing parenteral nutrition: validation and glycemic percentiles.

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring using subcutaneous sensors is useful in the management of glucose control in neonatal intensive care. We evaluated feasibility and reliability of a continuous glucose monitoring system in a population of very low birth weight neonates needing parenteral nutrition. Moreover, we presented percentiles of glycemia of the studied population.

METHODS: Very low birth weight neonates were enrolled within 24 h from birth. An ENLITE sensor connected to a continuous glucose monitoring system was inserted and maintained for at least 72 h. Data obtained with the continuous glucose monitoring system and with a glucometer were compared. Calibration was performed every 12 h.

RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (9 males) were included. Median gestational age was 28 weeks (range 23-30) and median birth weight was 860 g (range 500-1092). A total of 299 paired glucose values were obtained. Modified Clarke Error Grid criteria for clinical significance were met. 74 and 33 episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia were detected, respectively. 31,329 values of glycemia were analyzed and the percentiles calculated.

CONCLUSIONS: This continuous glucose monitoring system is safe and accurate. It allows increasing the detection of hypo- and hyper-glycaemia episodes and it could be routinely used in the management of glucose infusion in very low birth weight neonates under total parenteral nutrition.