Stable glucose balance in premature infants with fluid restriction and early enteral feeding.

Hyperglycemia readily develops during intravenous glucose administration in premature infants. In this study glucose homeostasis was measured in 24 infants appropriate-for-gestational age with a gestational age between 27 and 34 weeks and a birthweight between 1,150 and 2,610 g. The infants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Fluid intake consisted of intravenous infusion of 5% glucose in Group 1 and 10% glucose in Group 2, and increasing amounts of human milk from the first day of life. The infants were treated in incubators with high air humidity in order to minimize insensible water loss and total fluid intake was restricted. The fluid restriction and early enteral feeding decreased the total amount of glucose given parenterally and thereby the risk of hyperglycemia. Glucose homeostasis was efficiently maintained in both groups and under the conditions described hydration by intravenous infusion of 5% and 10% glucose appear equally well tolerated.