Comparison of Effects of the Hypoglycemia Management Protocol with 40% Dextrose Concentrated Solution to the Post-correction Blood Sugar Response through Intravenous Infusion and Intravenous Bolus

Hypoglycemic patients who receive 40% dextrose (D40%) concentrated solution in the correction process need to avoid excessive blood glucose spikes. Administration of D40% was found in two different ways, through intravenous infusion (iv infusion) and intravenous bolus (iv bolus) and the effects of both types of administration were unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a hypoglycemia treatment protocol using D40% concentrated solution to the post-correction blood sugar response through iv infusion and iv bolus at two different hospitals with two distinct protocols. This comparative analytical cross-sectional study was conducted retrospectively at St. Carolus Hospital (D40% iv infusion group) and Bella Hospital (D40% iv bolus group). Blood glucose responses, in form of coefficient of variation and degree of overcorrection, were compared between groups. The overall median blood glucose response was 69.5 (3–195) mg/dL for iv infusion group (n=60) and 77 (15–249) mg/dL for iv bolus group (n=62) (p=0.259). The coefficient of variation with iv infusion and iv bolus group were 47.18% and 52.75%, respectively. The median of degree of overcorrection in iv infusion group was lower compared with iv bolus group, 10% (0–138%) versus 23% (0–195%), respectively. Both D40% protocols did not have a significant correlation with the degree of overcorrection (Mann-Whitney test; p=0.099). D40% iv infusion and bolus administration had no effect to the post-correction blood sugar response.

Keywords: Blood glucose, dextrose 40%, hypoglycemia, intravenous bolus, intravenous infusion