Insulin
- Class: Hormone replacement
- Used for: diabetes
- Say it: IN-suh-lin
- Forms: injection
Mnemonic: Insulin is the key — and potassium rides in with the glucose
Insulin opens the cell's glucose door. It drives potassium in at the same time, which is why insulin is also a treatment for a dangerously high potassium.
Insulin opens the cell's glucose door. It drives potassium in at the same time, which is why insulin is also a treatment for a dangerously high potassium.
Side effects
Common: hypoglycemia, weight gain, injection-site lumps
Serious: severe hypoglycemia, low potassium
Typical dose
Units, individually titrated — there is no standard dose
Never expressed in milligrams. Set by weight, blood glucose, the regimen and the meal.
Check yourself
Why is insulin used to treat a dangerously high potassium?
- It drives potassium into cells alongside glucose
- It makes the kidney excrete potassium
- It binds potassium in the gut
- It chemically neutralises potassium in the blood
Show answer
A. It drives potassium into cells alongside glucose
It shifts potassium rather than removing it — an important distinction, because the total body load is unchanged and the level will climb again if nothing else is done.
See it, don't memorize it
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