[Carbohydrate intolerance as a danger in infusion therapy].

The following types of carbohydrate intolerance are discussed as a risk in infusion therapy: Hereditary fructose intolerance, fructose-1,6-biphosphatase deficiency, impairment of glucose utilization during the post-aggression syndrome and/or in latent or overt diabetes mellitus. Asking about symptoms of fructose intolerance has to be part of every routine anamnesis. Application of any kind of carbohydrate requires differential therapeutic considerations. Undiscovered fructose intolerance is more likely the younger the patient is, whereas the frequency of glucose intolerance increases with age. In unconscious patients without anamnesis, fructose or sorbitol should not be applied. Never should an attempt be made to compensate falling blood glucose levels under infusion therapy by application of fructose or sorbitol. As carbohydrate addition to routine fluid and electrolyte substitution xylitol in the specified low dosage is without risk in a diabetes-like metabolic condition as well as in fructose intolerance.