Enteral Dextrose

These instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia patients with hyperinsulinism prescribed dextrose to manage low blood sugars.

Important information about enteral dextrose:

• Learn more about hyperinsulinism.

• Dextrose is a concentrated glucose solution that treats low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) caused by hyperinsulinism. It works by giving the body sugar to raise the blood sugar level.

• Enteral dextrose is given directly into the stomach by an NG (nasogastric) or G tube (gastrostomy).

• Your child may need it only to treat low blood sugar or continuously to prevent low blood sugar.

• Enteral dextrose is a mixture of dextrose and water to give a concentration of 20% (D20). The amount of enteral dextrose that your child needs will be based on their weight and blood glucose level.

• Dextrose comes in a pre-filled plastic bag that look like IV fluid bags. There are different sizes of bags based upon the dose your child will need.

• Common side effects include:

  • Low blood sugar if the tubing disconnects while your child is receiving enteral dextrose. Use a bed wetting alarm to alert if the tubing comes apart while your child is sleeping.

• Less common side effects include:

  • Stomach pain

  • Diarrhea

• Your child will be screened for these side effects before discharge and at their follow-up clinic visits. Before going home, your team will teach you:

  • Dose and rate of dextrose infusion

  • How to check your child's blood sugar

  • How to give glucagon for a low- blood sugar emergency

Instructions for storing enteral dextrose

Dextrose is delivered to your home from home care or a mail-order pharmacy. Please follow storage directions on the packaging label.

Call your CHOP healthcare team with questions, concerns or if your child has:

• Weakness or decreased activity levels than usual

• Any abnormal stomach symptoms

• Any blood sugar less than 50 mg/dl

• More than 2 blood sugars in 1 week

• 2 blood sugars > 150 mg/dl in 1 week

• Any blood sugar >200 mg/dl

Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes

Reviewed on February 10, 2023, by Heather McKnight, CRNP; Nicole Stewart, RN; Jaime Gomes, PharmD