What is a glucose drip?

What is a glucose drip? How is it administered?

Those individuals who are suffering from dehydration or a low blood sugar level are given an intravenous glucose infusion. In most cases, an intravenous bag containing water and 5% dextrose is used to perform the procedure. When treating hypoglycemia brought on by an excess of insulin or another factor, it is usual practice to provide glucose in a concentration of fifty per cent as a means of restoring normal levels of glucose in the blood in both older people and younger children.

 The glucose solution at 50% concentration is hypertonic (has a high in vitro tonicity); thus, it may be used to extract calories from very little water. Typically, it is delivered between 30 and 45 minutes in length. Intravenous delivery of a dosage of glucose with a concentration of 50% is required; administration by subcutaneous injection or intramuscular injection is not allowed.

 After proper dilution, glucose at a concentration of 50 per cent should be administered intravenously via a central vein unless the patient is experiencing severe hypoglycemia. When treating hypoglycemia, glucose solution with a concentration of 50 per cent is injected gently into a peripheral vein at a pace that does not exceed 3 millilitres per minute.