Regulation of Serum Potassium During Insulin-induced Hypoglycemia

Key Points

• Investigate the mechanisms regulating the decline in serum potassium concentration during severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
• Evaluated serum potassium changes during severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia reaching a minimal plasma glucose of 27.4 ± 1 mg/dl.
• Analyzed the respective contributions of insulin action and counterregulatory epinephrine secretion to cellular potassium uptake under beta-adrenoceptor blockade.
• Severe hypoglycemia resulted in an overall serum potassium concentration decrease of 0.9 mVal/L at minimal plasma glucose of 27.4 ± 1 mg/dl.
• The potassium decline was mediated by insulin-induced uptake (0.48 mVal/L) and epinephrine-induced cellular uptake (0.42 mVal/L).
• Epinephrine-induced potassium uptake demonstrated higher sensitivity to beta-adrenoceptor blockade than hepatic glucose production.