Recognising and Managing Highs
Reviewed by CDE Mehandi Sharma · Updated
A single high reading in a baby is rarely an emergency. A pattern of high readings is a signal to act on.
What sustained high blood sugar looks like in an infant:
- Nappies that are unusually heavy and frequent.
- Feeding eagerly and often, seeming thirsty.
- Poor weight gain, or weight loss, despite feeding well.
- Tiredness, and less interest in surroundings.
- Nappy rash or thrush that keeps coming back.
Common causes worth working through before assuming the condition has changed: a missed or spat-out dose; insulin damaged by heat; an illness or infection brewing; a growth spurt outpacing the dose; a change in feeding; or injection sites that have been overused.
What to do depends on the plan your team gave you. Some families are given correction instructions; others are told to call. Follow yours, and if you do not have one, ask for it.
Seek help the same day if readings stay high despite following your plan, if your baby is vomiting, breathing fast or deeply, unusually drowsy, or has ketones. High readings plus vomiting in a baby should never be managed at home — see ketones and sick days.
A persistent upward drift usually means the dose has been outgrown, which is expected as your baby grows.