I.v. glucose and insulin therapy
An example protocol is shown - protocols are likely to vary between hospitals and the locally agreed protocol should be followed:
- discontinue previous diabetic therapy
- give 1 litre of 10% dextrose 12 hourly with a 20 mmol potassium supplement
- the administration of insulin by infusion pump should be regulated according to the blood glucose level and should aim to keep glucose concentrations between 5 and 10mM:
- Blood sugar concentration; insulin infusion rate
- 5 mM; 1U/hr
- 5-10 mM; 2 U/hr
- 10-20 mM; 3 U/hr
- > 20 mM; 4 U/hr
- blood glucose should be measured regularly (and the insulin infusion rate altered accordingly):
- When to measure blood glucose; Frequency of measurement
- Preoperatively; At least once
- Intraoperatively; Hourly
- Postoperatively; 3-4 hourly
Intravenous glucose control should be continued until the patient is eating again. Thereafter the normal diabetic regime may be recommenced.
Related pages
Create an account to add page annotations
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.