How many carbohydrates are administered in 24 hours to an adult or pediatric patient receiving 5% dextrose (D5) solution at a rate of 100 milliliters per hour (mL/hr)?

Carbohydrate Delivery from D5 at 100 mL/hr

A patient receiving 5% dextrose (D5) solution at 100 mL/hr will receive 120 grams of carbohydrates in 24 hours.

Calculation Method

The calculation is straightforward based on the concentration and infusion rate:

• D5 contains 5 grams of dextrose per 100 mL (5% = 5 g/100 mL = 0.05 g/mL) 1
• At 100 mL/hr, the patient receives: 100 mL/hr × 24 hours = 2,400 mL total volume
• Total dextrose delivered: 2,400 mL × 0.05 g/mL = 120 grams of carbohydrates

Alternatively: 5 grams per hour × 24 hours = 120 grams 1

Clinical Context and Considerations

This rate delivers approximately 5 grams of dextrose per hour, which aligns with physiologic glucose utilization rates and is commonly used for maintenance of basal glucose needs in patients who cannot receive enteral nutrition 1.

Expected Glycemic Impact

• In non-diabetic patients receiving D5 at 100 mL/hr, the mean serum glucose elevation is approximately 9 mg/dL above fasting levels 2
• Glucose elevations greater than 20 mg/dL above baseline at this infusion rate may indicate subclinical glucose intolerance 2
• Most non-diabetic patients remain normoglycemic with this infusion rate 3

Common Clinical Applications

D5 at 100 mL/hr is frequently used for:

• Maintenance fluid therapy when enteral nutrition is interrupted in diabetic patients receiving insulin coverage 1
• Prevention of hypoglycemia in patients on basal insulin who cannot receive nutrition 1
• Maintenance therapy during treatment of hyperglycemic crises once glucose reaches target thresholds 4

Important Caveats

• This rate provides insufficient glucose for acute hypoglycemia treatment, which requires concentrated dextrose boluses (D50, D25, or D10 in larger volumes) 5, 6, 7
• D5 delivers no significant renal osmotic load, making it appropriate for patients with conditions like nephrogenic diabetes insipidus where salt-containing solutions should be avoided 4
• Blood glucose monitoring every 1-2 hours is recommended when dextrose infusions are used in conjunction with insulin therapy 4, 1