Half-life and hypoglycemic effect of intravenous insulin in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.
Intravenous insulin (0.3 U/kg body weight) was administered at 2-hour intervals to 34 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (21 women and 13 men; average age 34.4 years). Determination of blood glucose and plasma insulin values after the first two hours of treatment showed a decrease of both glycemia and plasma insulin values after the first two hours of treatment showed a decrease of both glycemia and insulinemia. Insulin half-life was longer (15 min) than it is generally assumed (4--5 min). Discontinuous i.v. administration insulin in doses adapted to the "resistance to insulin" is deprived of risks, easy to apply and as effective as continuous i.v. infusion.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin