1. What is Potassium Correction?

Potassium correction is a calculation used to adjust measured potassium levels in the presence of hyperglycemia. High blood glucose levels can cause artificial decreases in measured potassium due to intracellular shifting.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the potassium correction formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Measured K} \) — Measured potassium level (mmol/L)
• \( \text{Glucose} \) — Blood glucose level (mg/dL)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the fact that for every 100 mg/dL increase in glucose above 100 mg/dL, serum potassium decreases by approximately 0.6 mmol/L due to intracellular shifting.

3. Importance of Potassium Correction

Details: Accurate potassium assessment is crucial in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia to avoid missing true hypokalemia and guide appropriate potassium replacement therapy.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter measured potassium in mmol/L and glucose in mg/dL. Both values must be valid positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When should potassium correction be applied?
A: Correction should be applied when blood glucose is >200 mg/dL to estimate the true potassium level after glucose normalization.

Q2: What is the clinical significance of corrected potassium?
A: It helps determine if true hypokalemia exists in hyperglycemic patients, guiding appropriate potassium replacement therapy.

Q3: Are there limitations to this correction formula?
A: The formula provides an estimate and individual variations may occur. Clinical judgment should always be used alongside laboratory values.

Q4: How accurate is the 0.6 correction factor?
A: The 0.6 factor is based on clinical studies but may vary slightly between individuals. It provides a reasonable estimate for clinical decision making.

Q5: Should this correction be used for all hyperglycemic patients?
A: The correction is most commonly applied in diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states where significant potassium shifts occur.