Incidence of hypoglycemia in hyperkalemia patients after treatment with insulin and dextrose in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in India: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia is a serious, often overlooked complication of treating hyperkalemia with insulin and dextrose. If not recognized and managed, it can increase morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of hypoglycemia in hyperkalemic patients treated with 10 units of intravenous insulin, 50 ml of 50% dextrose, 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate, and salbutamol nebulization. Additionally, the timing of hypoglycemia onset and its associated factors were studied.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included hyperkalemic patients (serum potassium >5.5 mmol/L) who visited the emergency department between January 26, 2020, and August 26, 2021. The primary outcome was hypoglycemia (blood glucose <70 mg/dl) within 3 hours of receiving the standard treatment. Glucose levels were measured hourly for 3 hours. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Of 100 patients, 69% were male, and the median age was 46 years (IQR, 30-60 years). Hypoglycemia occurred in 44%, and 10% developed severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose <54 mg/dl). The median time for hypoglycemia onset was 2 hours (IQR, 1-2 hours). Low pretreatment blood glucose (<100 mg/dl) was significantly associated with hypoglycemia, according to both univariate and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found a higher incidence of hypoglycemia in hyperkalemia treatment than reported in retrospective studies, suggesting the need for standardized management protocols with integrated glucose monitoring.