Table 1.
Comparison of patient characteristics and treatments between those with and without hypoglycemic episodes following insulin treatment for hyperkalemia
| Hypoglycemic (n = 29) | Nonhypoglycemic (n = 192) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 51 ± 14 | 56 ± 14 | 0.07 |
| Male (%) | 63 | 62 | 0.47 |
| African American (%) | 62 | 49 | 0.19 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 25.9 ± 5.5 | 28.6 ± 7.4 | 0.06 |
| History of diabetes (%) | 34 | 54 | 0.05 |
| Taking diabetes medication prior to admission (%) | 14 | 70 | 0.02 |
| Pretreatment glucose level mmol/L (mg/dL) | 5.8 ± 3.5 (104 ± 63) | 9.0 ± 8.2 (162 ± 148) | 0.04 |
| Nadir glucose level mmol/L (mg/dL) | 2.6 ± 0.5 (46 ± 9) | 8.9 ± 5.7 (160 ± 102) | 0.01 |
| Received dextrose with insulin (%) | 100 | 93 | 0.17 |
| Doses (25 g IV or oral) of dextrose given before hypoglycemia | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.5 | 0.20 |
Data are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise noted.