[Induced hyperglycemia and its relationship to underweight fetuses: study on a newborn infant].

A study was carried out on hyperglycaemia induced by intravenous administration of glucose between the 1st and 4th day of life in healthy new-born infants and in underweight newborns. The blood glucose level in underweight infants is slightly lower than that in healthy new-born infants. The level of insulin in the blood is much lower in the underweight child after 30 minutes. Although the levels of insulin and Glucagon in the blood vary between the two groups the ratio of Glucagon to insulin is constant and evolves constantly. The ratio is higher the more underweight the child is. It is possible that this can help to maintain the level of blood glucose sufficiently high in the underweight new-born infant.