# Successful Treatment of a Very Low-Birth-Weight Infant With GATA6 Neonatal Diabetes Using Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion

**Authors:** Takumi Ito, Atsushi Suzuki, Naoya Yamaguchi, Kohei Aoyama, Yutaka Negishi, Hajime Tanaka, Tohru Yorifuji, Atsushi Ishida

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.83555 · Cureus · 2025-05-06

## TL;DR

A very low-birth-weight infant with GATA6-related neonatal diabetes was successfully treated using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

## Contribution

Demonstrates successful management of GATA6 neonatal diabetes in a VLBWI using CSII and CGM.

## Key findings

- CSII improved glycemic control and reduced insulin dosage in a VLBWI with GATA6-related diabetes.
- CGM + CSII prevented ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia in the patient.
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement improved nutrient absorption but required increased insulin dosage.

## Abstract

GATA6 variants are associated with pancreatic hypoplasia/aplasia, congenital heart disease, and biliary tract disorders. We report the case of a very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) with pancreatic aplasia and neonatal diabetes caused by a previously reported GATA6 variant. A male infant was born at 36 weeks and 0 days of gestation, weighing 1498 g, and presented with hyperglycemia on the first day of life. Continuous intravenous insulin was administered and discontinued after blood glucose levels normalized. Hyperglycemia recurred on day 7, necessitating insulin reinitiation with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Because of persistent glucose instability, the patient was transitioned to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Improved glycemic control and reduced insulin dosage were achieved. Imaging failed to identify the pancreas, and serum trypsin levels were undetectable, confirming pancreatic aplasia. Poor weight gain owing to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency improved with pancreatic enzyme replacement; the resulting improvement in nutrient absorption necessitated an increase in insulin dosage. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous GATA6 splice-site variant (c.1136-2A>G). CGM + CSII prevented ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** GATA6 (GATA binding protein 6) [NCBI Gene 2627]
- **Diseases:** congenital heart disease (MONDO:0005453)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}, GATA6 (GATA binding protein 6) [NCBI Gene 2627]
- **Diseases:** pancreatic hypoplasia/aplasia (MESH:C536482), biliary tract disorders (MESH:D001660), hypoglycemia (MESH:D007003), Hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), pancreatic aplasia (MESH:D010195), pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (MESH:D010188), Neonatal Diabetes (MESH:C563322), congenital heart disease (MESH:D006330), weight gain (MESH:D015430), ketoacidosis (MESH:D007662)
- **Chemicals:** glucose (MESH:D005947), blood glucose (MESH:D001786)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** c.1136-2A>G

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12138728/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12138728/full.md

## References

18 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12138728/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12138728