Effects of glucose and beta-blockade on response to potassium load in normals and dialysis patients

Peak increase in the plasma potassium concentration in normals and dialysis patients following the ingestion of 0.25 meq/kg of potassium alone (K) or with glucose (K+G), a beta blocker (K+β), or a beta blocker and glucose (K+β+G). The degree of hyperkalemia was minimized by glucose (via enhanced release of insulin), increased by a beta blocker, and made more prominent (by as much as 0.4 meq/L) with all interventions in dialysis patients, indicating decreased cell uptake of potassium in renal failure.