sodium concentration decreases by 1.6 mEq/l for every 100 mg/dl increase in glucose concentration due to water shifts from the intracellular to the extracellular compartment
Abnormal serum sodium levels in various diseases increase mortality; however, hyperglycemia slow down serum sodium concentration significantly.
Abnormalities in serum sodium concentration in the form of hypernatremia and hyponatremia are common electrolyte disorders.1 The serum sodium concentration is regulated by water homeostasis, which is mediated by thirst, arginine vasopressin, and the kidneys.2 Hyperglycemia is associated with a decrease in serum sodium concentration. Water moves from the intracellular space to the extracellular space along the osmotic gradient, subsequently causing a reduction in the serum sodium level. Therefore, hyperglycemic patients are mostly mildly hyponatremic
Hyponatremia and hypernatremia have been linked to increased mortality in hospitalized patients.5,6 Hyponatremia also indicates poor prognosis in a variety of subgroups, including patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease, or intracerebral hemorrhage.
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