What Are the Risks of Growth Hormone Deficiency?

About 5% of children with growth hormone deficiency also have episodes in which blood sugar levels are low, especially during infancy. The low blood sugar levels resolve (get better) once growth hormone therapy is started. Other pituitary hormones may also be affected, and conditions resulting from other pituitary hormone deficiencies can even cause death. Adults with untreated growth hormone deficiency have problems such as too much body fat and not enough lean body mass, decreased bone mineralization (the process by which minerals are absorbed into bones), and increased heart disease risks (particularly because of increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels).