Low- and high-dose intravenous insulin therapy for diabetic ketoacidosis.
We compared low-dose, continuous insulin infusion with a conventional high-dose intravenous bolus method of insulin administration in 18 episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis. The average rate of reduction in serum glucose concentration was 9.5 +/- 3.8%/hr in the continuous infusion group and 10.7 +/- 4.7%/hr in the bolus group. Arterial blood pH was corrected to 7.35 by 9.9 +/- 2.6/hours in the continuous infusion group and by 10.4 +/- 3.2/hours in the bolus group. The above means are not significantly different between groups. By the time pH was corrected to 7.35, patients in the continuous infusion group had received 121 +/- 44 units of insulin, whereas those in the bolus group had received 326 +/- 152 units. The continuous low-dose insulin infusion method is as safe and efficacious as the conventional high-dose intravenous bolus method.
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000379:methods*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin