Question:

If there are 100 calories in 50 cc of D50-does that equate to 125 carbohydrates in an entire IV bag?(250 cc`s) Thanks. (this is for future referance,I am a type 1 diabetic)

Answer:

Rather than just give you an answer to this question, let me explain the principles so that you and others can apply the information more generally.

“D50” is short for D50W which represents a solution of 50% dextrose in water; dextrose is the chemical term for the common form of glucose, d-glucose.  The other forms of IV glucose are D5 and D20.  50% dextrose refers to 50 gm per 100 ml or per 1 deciliter (dl):  so 50 ml (milliliters) or cubic centimeters of D50 contains 25 gm dextose.  Each gram of a carbohydrate provides approximately 4 calories (technically kilocalories, but calories is the term used commonly).  Hence, you are correct that 50 ml of D50 contains 100 Kcal.  Now to your question:  I am not aware of whether D50 comes in 250 ml bags.  But the general principle is  total calories = concentration (grams/deciliter) X volume (convert to deciliters) X 4 Kcal/gram.  If you want to calculate the number of carbohydrate exchanges, the conversion factor is 15 grams carbohydrate per exchange.  For that total carbohdrate exchanges  = concentration (grams/deciliter) X volume (convert to deciliters) divided by 15 grams per exchange.  A common situation would be a person in the hospital receiving 100 ml per hr of maintenance fluids.  If that fluid contains D5W, that would represent 5 grams dextrose per hour.  that would equate to 120 grams in a 24 hour period which would provide 480 kilocalories or 8 carbohdrate exchanges.

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