Carbohydrate / hypoglycaemia treatment Pregnancy: Avoid maternal hyperglycaemia during IV glucose infusion in the perinatal period (risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia). Use with special caution during labour, particularly with oxytocin (risk of hyponatraemia).

Glucose

Brand names: GlucoGel, Lift glucose

Glucose (dextrose) is given intravenously to treat hypoglycaemia when oral carbohydrate is not possible or unsafe, and is combined with insulin to drive potassium into cells in hyperkalaemia.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: No fixed dose — individualised to clinical judgement and laboratory assessment

Route: Intravenous infusion (via central venous catheter; peripheral vein only in emergency, given slowly)

Frequency: By continuous infusion as clinically required

Based on Glucose 10% Intravenous Infusion (SPC). There is no recommended dose — the volume of 10% glucose needed as supplemental nutrition varies with patient age, body weight, complementary treatment and severity of the clinical condition, and is a matter for clinical judgement and laboratory assessment in each case. Monitor fluid balance, serum glucose, serum sodium and other electrolytes before and during administration (particularly risk of hyponatraemia). If more than 180 g glucose is given per day (equivalent to 1.8 litres of 10%), frequent blood glucose monitoring is required and insulin may be necessary. Infusion rate should be slow enough to allow detection of osmotic diuresis. Do not administer through the same equipment as blood/blood components. Note: the US openFDA record retrieved for this id is an unrelated oral antiemetic product and was not used.

Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

US labelling (FDA)

Reference — US labelling, may differ from UK

Directions for maximum effectiveness never dilute or drink fluids of any kind immediately before or after taking this product repeat dose every 15 minutes or until distress subsides do not take more than 5 doses in 1 hour without consulting a doctor measure only with dosing cup provided. Dosing cup to be used with this product only. Do not use with other products. mL= milliliter age dose adults and children 12 years of age and over 15 mL or 30 mL children 2 to under 12 years of age 5 ml or 10 mL

Source: US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed), label dated 2025-09-11. Accessed 2026-06-12. US dosing and indications can differ from UK practice — use UK sources for prescribing decisions.

Contraindications

Conditions of water excess
Hyperosmotic glucose solutions contraindicated in anuria, intracranial or intraspinal haemorrhage, and delirium tremens where there is dehydration
Caution/avoid following acute ischaemic stroke — hyperglycaemia may increase cerebral ischaemic damage

Side effects

Venous irritation, local pain and thrombophlebitis (hypertonic solutions)
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances: hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypophosphataemia
Hospital-acquired hyponatraemia
Hyponatraemic encephalopathy (may cause irreversible brain injury and death)

Interactions

Drugs that increase vasopressin effect (increase risk of hospital-acquired hyponatraemia with inappropriately balanced fluids)

Clinical monograph

How it works

It provides an immediate, directly usable energy substrate that restores blood glucose; given with insulin, the insulin shifts potassium intracellularly while the glucose prevents resultant hypoglycaemia.

Prescribing in practice

Concentrated glucose solutions are irritant and cause thrombophlebitis or serious tissue injury if they extravasate — give into a large vein and confirm cannula patency before and during administration.
After recovery from hypoglycaemia, recheck the glucose and provide longer-acting oral carbohydrate, because the effect of intravenous glucose is short-lived.
When glucose is given with insulin for hyperkalaemia, anticipate and monitor for rebound hypoglycaemia, which can be delayed.

Monitoring

Monitor capillary or laboratory glucose closely before and repeatedly after administration, watch the infusion site for extravasation, and recheck potassium when glucose-insulin is used for hyperkalaemia.

Counselling the patient

Tell the team to recheck glucose after treatment and to give longer-acting carbohydrate once the patient can swallow safely.
Warn that hypoglycaemia can recur, especially after glucose-insulin for hyperkalaemia, and that the patient needs continued glucose monitoring.
Advise reporting pain, swelling or redness at the drip site immediately.

Evidence & guidelines

Standard of care for hypoglycaemia and for the insulin-glucose regimen in hyperkalaemia (Resuscitation Council UK; UK hyperkalaemia guidance).

Reference: JBDS hypoglycaemia guideline; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways

📚 MRCEM Revision

Featured in these MRCEM clinical pathways

Glucose is a core drug in the following exam-focused workups on our sister siteReviseMRCEM.

Hypoglycaemia

MRCEM Primary / Intermediate / OSCE candidates: each pathway includes exam-style questions, RCEM/NICE citations, and FAQ summaries.