Symptomless hypoglycaemia
Andreasen, A.T.; Maraspini, C.
South African Medical Journal 50(34): 1339-1341
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 823653 Document Number: 107582
Case is described of a negro woman in the 32nd week of pregnancy, who had blood glucose only 7 mg/100 ml but no sign of hypoglycaemia. That seemed to have no connection with her rhesus-negative problem. From results of tolerance tests with glucose 200 or 400 g by mouth or 100 g intravenously she seemed to absorb some, if not all, of the glucose but to metabolize it very rapidly, judging by the low rise in blood glucose after the dose by mouth, the quick fall after the dose by vein and the absence of glucose in urine after the dose by mouth. Results were the same 10 weeks after discharge, but 6 months after parturition her blood glucose was normal before and during a glucose tolerance test. A second pregnant woman was found with low blood glucose, 19 mg/100 ml, without signs. That might be a prediabetic stage, or related somehow to the pregnancy. Findings are not understood and suggestions are invited.