D10 at 100 mL/hr Delivers 240 Grams of Carbohydrates in 24 Hours
D10 (10% dextrose) contains 10 grams of dextrose per 100 mL, so an infusion rate of 100 mL/hr delivers 10 grams per hour, totaling 240 grams of carbohydrates over 24 hours. 1
Calculation Breakdown
- D10 composition: 10 grams of dextrose per 100 mL 1
- Infusion rate: 100 mL/hr
- Hourly carbohydrate delivery: 10 grams/hour
- 24-hour total: 10 grams/hr × 24 hours = 240 grams of carbohydrates 1
Energy Content
- This 240-gram dextrose load provides approximately 960 kcal over 24 hours (dextrose provides ~4 kcal/gram) 1
- This represents partial nutritional support but is insufficient as sole nutrition for most adults 1
Clinical Context for This Infusion Rate
The 100 mL/hr rate (10 grams/hour) is twice the standard maintenance rate typically used in clinical practice:
- Standard D10 maintenance dosing is 50 mL/hr (5 grams/hour), delivering 120 grams over 24 hours 2, 3
- The 100 mL/hr rate would be appropriate for patients with higher glucose utilization needs or when preventing hypoglycemia in patients receiving higher insulin doses 3
Insulin Coverage Considerations
For a patient receiving 240 grams of carbohydrates via continuous D10 infusion:
- The American Diabetes Association recommends approximately 1 unit of insulin for every 10-15 grams of carbohydrate 1, 2
- This translates to roughly 16-24 units of insulin per 24 hours for nutritional coverage of this dextrose load 1
Monitoring Requirements
- Blood glucose should be monitored every 1-2 hours during dextrose infusions, particularly at rates exceeding standard maintenance dosing 2, 3
- More frequent monitoring (every 15-60 minutes) may be needed during initial titration or in unstable patients 3
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse D10 at 100 mL/hr with standard maintenance rates—this is a higher-than-typical infusion rate that delivers double the carbohydrate load of standard D10 maintenance therapy (240g vs 120g per 24 hours). 2, 3