1. What is the Corrected Sodium Formula?

The corrected sodium formula adjusts measured sodium levels in the presence of hyperglycemia. It accounts for the dilutional effect of high glucose levels on serum sodium concentration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the corrected sodium formula:

Where:

• \( Measured\_Na \) — Serum sodium concentration (mEq/L)
• \( Glucose \) — Blood glucose level (mg/dL)
• 1.6 — Correction factor (mEq/L per 100 mg/dL glucose above 100)

Explanation: For every 100 mg/dL increase in glucose above 100 mg/dL, sodium decreases by approximately 1.6 mEq/L due to osmotic fluid shifts.

3. Importance of Sodium Correction

Details: Accurate sodium correction is crucial for proper assessment of hyponatremia in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia, as uncorrected values may lead to inappropriate treatment.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter measured sodium in mEq/L and glucose in mg/dL. All values must be valid (sodium > 0, glucose > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is sodium correction necessary in hyperglycemia?
A: High glucose creates an osmotic gradient that pulls water into the intravascular space, diluting sodium concentration.

Q2: Is the correction factor always 1.6?
A: Some sources use 2.4 mEq/L correction factor, but 1.6 is more widely accepted for chronic hyperglycemia.

Q3: When should this correction be applied?
A: Apply when glucose is >100 mg/dL to assess true sodium concentration in hyperglycemic patients.

Q4: Does this apply to all cases of hyponatremia?
A: No, only for dilutional hyponatremia secondary to hyperglycemia. Other causes require different evaluation.

Q5: How quickly does sodium correct after treating hyperglycemia?
A: As glucose normalizes, sodium will rise gradually over several hours as water redistributes.