Continuous intravenous infusion of small doses of insulin in treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis

Br Med J. 1974 Jun 29;2(5921):694-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5921.694.

Abstract

Continuous intravenous infusion of small amounts of insulin has been used in the management of a series of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. In 13 patients with a plasma glucose level on admission of 725 mg/100 ml (+/- 80 S.E. of mean) and an arterial pH of 7.07 +/- 0.05 a mean loading dose of 6.5 +/- 0.82 units of soluble insulin was administered intravenously, and thereafter a sustaining infusion of 6.5 +/- 0.82 U/hr was continued until ketosis was corrected and the plasma glucose fell below 300 mg/100 ml. The total insulin dose needed to achieve this was 39.2 +/- 6.6 units given over a 3 to 10-hour period. Plasma insulin was measured in patients who had not previously received insulin and the mean level at an infusion rate of 4 U/hr was 75.6 +/- 8.0 muU/ml. Plasma glucose fell at a regular rate of 101 +/- 11 mg/100 ml/hr, and ketosis improved in parallel. Plasma potassium was well maintained throughout treatment. This regimen of treatment was clinically effective and simple to follow.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Diabetic Coma / drug therapy
  • Diabetic Coma / physiopathology
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Insulin / administration & dosage*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Ketones / blood
  • Ketones / urine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Potassium / blood

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Ketones
  • Glucose
  • Potassium