Question

Till when does a paitent need to be on a drip of glucose ?

Answer 1

Answer:

Glucose is always needed by cells and is provided by dietary glucose, stored liver glycogen (8–10 hrs at most) or conversion of fats into glucose. IV fluids don’t generally contain glucose unless the patient is NPO (no food intake) or patient is injured.

Glucose infusion would only be given to a patient suffering from significant hypoglycemia. The major cause of hypoglycemia in the US is accidental overdosing of insulin by diabetics. This can lead to neuroglycopenia (low neuronal glucose) that resembles alcohol intoxication. Police have actually shot and killed drivers suffering from low glucose after traffic stops when the affected drivers did not/could not comprehend their orders.