D10 Infusion Carbohydrate Calculation
D10 running at 60 mL/hour provides 6 grams of carbohydrates per hour.
Calculation Explanation
- D10 solution contains 10% dextrose, which means 10 grams of dextrose per 100 mL of solution 1
- At an infusion rate of 60 mL/hour, the carbohydrate delivery can be calculated as:
- 10 g/100 mL × 60 mL/hour = 6 g/hour 2
Clinical Context of D10 Administration
- D10 solutions are commonly used in clinical settings for:
Important Considerations for D10 Administration
- The maximum rate at which dextrose can be infused without producing glycosuria is 0.5 g/kg of body weight/hour 1
- Approximately 95% of dextrose is retained when infused at a rate of 0.8 g/kg/hour 1
- For treatment of hypoglycemia, higher concentrations and bolus administration may be required (typically 10-25 grams of dextrose) 1
- When used with insulin for hyperkalemia treatment, the ratio is typically 1 unit of insulin for every 4 g of glucose 2
Monitoring Recommendations
- Regular blood glucose monitoring is essential during D10 infusion to avoid hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia 1
- Electrolytes should be monitored, particularly when D10 is administered with insulin 2
- Fluid status should be monitored to prevent overload, especially in patients with cardiac or renal compromise 3
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Administering dextrose solutions too rapidly can cause hyperglycemia, which may have adverse effects on the central nervous system 2
- In non-diabetic elective surgery patients, even 500 mL of dextrose-containing solutions can cause significant, albeit transient, hyperglycemia 4
- D10 infusion during surgical stress may have a blunted inhibitory effect on endogenous glucose production, potentially leading to higher glucose levels than anticipated 5