Hyperkalemia Management: Preventing Hypoglycemia From Insulin

DID YOU KNOW: The hypoglycemic effects of IV insulin last longer than a bolus of dextrose when correcting hyperkalaemia. 50 mL (25 gm) of 50% Dextrose is not enough to counteract the hypoglycemic effect of insulin in patients with normoglycemia to start.  Make sure to check glucose at the hour mark after administering IV insulin. Insulin’s peak effect occurs at about 60 minutes and this is when hypoglycemia has most often been reported in the literature.