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What does insulin do to potassium and what does potassium do to insulin secretion is a concept that is frequently tested in USMLE Step 1.
Let's summarize here and I'd be happy if you enrich this thread with your valuable posts.
Let's summarize here and I'd be happy if you enrich this thread with your valuable posts.
- Insulin causes Potassium to shift into the cells thereby decreasing the extracellular K level. That's why insulin is used in the treatment of hyperkalemia.
- Level of Potassium in the serum also affects insulin secretion from the pancreas. Because the beta cells have an ATP dependent K channel which is when closed leads to retained K inside the beta cell which favors depolarization thereby enhancing Calcium mediated release of secretory granules. Therefore, in hyperkalemia more K will enter the beta cell and insulin secretion will increase and conversely in hypokalemia the K ions are more likely to leave the beta cell and so insulin secretion will decrease.