Treating Low Blood Sugar to Keep Wade Active

Wade’s parents were expecting a big baby, but when he arrived weighing 11.5 pounds and measuring almost two feet long, everyone was shocked, including the doctors at the local hospital where he was born. The medical providers immediately contacted the pediatric experts at University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH) to discuss the newborn.

A decision was made to transfer Wade to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UMCH where he could get specialized care from both neonatologists and eventually endocrinologists, who together determined that Wade had hyperinsulinism.  

Hyperinsulinism is a big word, but Wade can say it easily, and he will tell you that it means he has low blood sugar.

“Hyperinsulinism is a rare condition where the pancreas makes too much insulin which in turn causes the body to have low blood sugar,” says Ryan Miller, MD, the pediatric endocrinology specialist who cares for Wade. “This means that Wade’s family must check his blood sugar every day. His mom does this by taking a drop of blood to test on a home glucose meter. Wade also must take medicine each day to help keep his blood sugar normal.”

Welcoming Support for Wade and His Family

“I’d never even heard of hyperinsulinism,” explains Wade’s mom, Ali. “But we are so thankful that this was discovered quickly. When my husband and I talk about coming to the NICU, the thing that really stands out to us was how welcoming the nurses were and how they advocated for Wade.”

Now one of Wade’s biggest supporters is Dr. Miller, who must keep a close eye on Wade, checking his weight often, to determine he gets the right amount of medicine. Left uncontrolled, hyperinsulinism can cause seizures and improper brain development.

Wade’s family and doctors are overly diligent in making sure his condition is under control so he can continue to lead a healthy life, grow up, and continue to dream big. Wade wants to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles to become a police officer.

Are you looking for a pediatric specialist? Call the UM Children’s Hospital 410-328-5887.