1. What is Glucose Infusion Rate?

The Glucose Infusion Rate (GIR) measures how much glucose is being administered to a patient per kilogram of body weight per minute. It's commonly used in neonatal and pediatric intensive care to monitor and adjust glucose administration.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the GIR formula:

Where:

• \( infusion\_rate \) — Rate of IV fluid administration (mL/hr)
• \( glucose\_conc \) — Concentration of glucose in the IV fluid (mg/mL)
• \( weight \) — Patient's weight (kg)

Explanation: The formula calculates how many milligrams of glucose are being delivered per kilogram of body weight each minute.

3. Importance of GIR Calculation

Details: Monitoring GIR is essential for maintaining appropriate blood glucose levels, especially in preterm infants and critically ill patients who require intravenous glucose administration.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the infusion rate in mL/hr, glucose concentration in mg/mL, and weight in kg. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical GIR range for neonates?
A: For stable neonates, GIR typically ranges from 4-8 mg/kg/min, adjusted based on blood glucose monitoring.

Q2: How do I convert percentage glucose to mg/mL?
A: 1% glucose = 10 mg/mL (e.g., 10% glucose = 100 mg/mL).

Q3: Why is weight important in GIR calculation?
A: Glucose requirements are weight-dependent, so calculations must account for the patient's size.

Q4: When is GIR monitoring most important?
A: Particularly critical in very low birth weight infants and patients with glucose instability.

Q5: How often should GIR be recalculated?
A: Should be recalculated whenever infusion rates, concentrations, or patient weight changes significantly.