Amount of Glucose in 200 cc of D5W
200 cc of D5W (5% Dextrose in Water) contains 10 grams of glucose.
Calculation of Glucose Content
- D5W is a solution containing 5% dextrose (glucose) in water, which means there are 5 grams of glucose per 100 mL of solution 1
- To calculate the amount of glucose in 200 cc (mL) of D5W:
- 5 g glucose per 100 mL × (200 mL ÷ 100 mL) = 10 g glucose 1
Clinical Relevance of D5W
- D5W is commonly used in clinical settings for:
Metabolic Considerations
- When administered intravenously, D5W can cause transient hyperglycemia 2
- A 500 mL infusion of D5W can significantly raise plasma glucose levels to approximately 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) within 15 minutes of completion 2
- The volume of distribution for infused glucose molecules (approximately 12 liters) is larger than for the infused fluid itself (approximately 2.8-3.7 liters) 3
Comparison with Other Dextrose Concentrations
- For treating hypoglycemia, lower concentrations of dextrose (10%) may be as effective as higher concentrations (50%) while requiring lower total doses 4, 5
- D10W (10% dextrose) would contain 10 g of glucose per 100 mL, or 20 g per 200 mL 1
- D25W (25% dextrose) would contain 25 g of glucose per 100 mL, or 50 g per 200 mL 1
- D50W (50% dextrose) would contain 50 g of glucose per 100 mL, or 100 g per 200 mL 1
Important Considerations
- D5W is isotonic when in the bag but becomes hypotonic once the glucose is metabolized, leaving free water 1
- When calculating total energy intake for patients receiving intravenous glucose solutions, the glucose content should be factored into their nutritional requirements 1
- For patients on peritoneal dialysis, glucose absorption from dialysate should also be considered when calculating total energy intake 1