D10 at 100 mL/hr Delivers 240 Grams of Carbohydrates in 24 Hours
A patient receiving D10 (10% dextrose solution) at 100 mL/hour will receive 240 grams of carbohydrates over 24 hours.
Calculation Method
The calculation is straightforward based on the concentration of dextrose in the solution:
- D10 contains 10 grams of dextrose per 100 mL of solution 1
- At an infusion rate of 100 mL/hour, the patient receives 10 grams of dextrose per hour 1
- Over 24 hours: 10 grams/hour × 24 hours = 240 grams total 1
Clinical Context for D10 Infusions
Standard dosing for continuous D10 infusions in diabetic patients is typically 50 mL/hour (5 grams/hour), which delivers 120 grams over 24 hours. 2 The rate you're asking about (100 mL/hour) is double the standard maintenance rate and would be considered a higher infusion rate.
When Higher D10 Rates Are Used:
For hyperkalemia treatment with insulin: D10 infusions may be run at higher rates when patients receive IV insulin for hyperkalemia, as the dextrose prevents hypoglycemia while insulin drives potassium intracellularly 3
For enteral feeding interruption: When tube feeding is stopped in diabetic patients on insulin, D10 at 50 mL/hour is the standard starting rate, but this may be increased based on blood glucose monitoring 2
Maximum safe infusion rate: The FDA label states that the maximum rate at which dextrose can be infused without producing glycosuria is 0.5 g/kg/hour, with about 95% retention at 0.8 g/kg/hour 1
Important Monitoring Considerations
Blood glucose should be monitored every 1-2 hours during dextrose infusions, particularly when rates exceed standard maintenance dosing 2
For a 100 mL/hour rate (10 g/hour): In a 70 kg patient, this equals approximately 0.14 g/kg/hour, which is well below the maximum safe rate but higher than typical maintenance 1
Insulin coverage calculations: The American Diabetes Association recommends approximately 1 unit of insulin for every 10-15 grams of carbohydrate in patients receiving continuous nutrition 4