Why Insulin Causes Hypokalemia?

[cybron]

Can you plz tell me why insulin cuZ hypokalemia???

[Master shifu]

Insulin results Hypokalemia just by increasing the activity of H*K ATPase pump. So insulin only shifts the K+ from the extracellular compartment to the intracellular compartment, it doesn't decrease the total K+ content of the body........remember it......that's why during management of Hyperkalemia 1st initial therapy is done by giving Insulin + Glucose combination which usually needs 30 minutes to come into action........Hope it helps

[cybron]

Thanks master but i heard there is increase activity of Na/K pump not H/K pump..can u plz clarify??
If H/K pump increases then acid production also increases??

[Master shifu]

Originally Posted by cybron

Thanks master but i heard there is increase activity of Na/K pump not H/K pump..can u plz clarify??
If H/K pump increases then acid production also increases??

Sorry for the mistake........actually though the real mechanism is uncertain but it has been observed that insulin increases the activity of Na+/K+ pump thereby migration of Potassium into the cell via cell membrane..........
Thanks for the correction............

[DownToEarth]

May I follow up this question by asking why DM patient on regular insulin injection do not develop chronic hypokalemia? Thank you

[christianLL]

Simply because most patients with DM can manage their insulin injections and are often able to keep it within physiological levels. Futhermore, the effect of insulin on the activity of Na+/K+ pump is not permanent, the IC K+ will eventually leak out from the cell into ECF again returning the ratio to normal values.

[gokulramani]

Originally Posted by DownToEarth

May I follow up this question by asking why DM patient on regular insulin injection do not develop chronic hypokalemia? Thank you

Because they are not on a heavy insulin dose.
Heavy dose - They will probably die of hypoglycemia than hypokalemia!

In the management of DKA, patients are put on an INFUSION of insulin along with DEXTROSE to prevent hypoglycemia.

[fnatic440]

Originally Posted by DownToEarth

May I follow up this question by asking why DM patient on regular insulin injection do not develop chronic hypokalemia? Thank you

It's temporary. The body doesn't like the fact that we're pushing K+ from the extracellular space into the intracellular space as it is. So as soon as "it" (the cell) can, it will push that K+ right out of the cell.

[Sanador26]

Sorry but i'm a bit confused . I know that insulin in order to be released from b pancreas cells it has the k pump to be closed and ca pump to open .. so i would expect k to be increased extracellular -so hyperkalemia ....