Corrected Sodium Calculator

Hyperglycemia dilution correction sketch for measured sodium. Click any i for detail.

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Labs

Measured sodium (mEq/L)
i
Na

Serum sodium from the lab.

Glucose (mg/dL)
i
Glucose

Serum glucose paired with that sodium.

Correction factor
i
Factor

Common teaching factors: 1.6 (Katz) or 2.4 (Hillier). Default 1.6.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter measured Na and glucose.
  2. Pick a correction factor your reference uses.
  3. Read corrected Na.
  4. Defer treatment decisions to the care team.

Results explained

High glucose draws water into the extracellular space and can dilute measured sodium. A common correction adds a factor × ((glucose − 100)/100) to measured Na. Published factors vary (about 1.6 to 2.4). This is a teaching worksheet, not an order set.

Quick reference: corrected Na

Corrected Na ≈ measured Na + factor × ((glucose − 100) / 100).

ItemDetail
Factor 1.6Classic Katz-style teaching value
Factor 2.4Hillier-style alternative
Glucose 100No correction term
UnitsGlucose in mg/dL for this form

Educational only — hyperglycemia care is clinical.

How the estimate is built

Na_corr = Na_meas + factor × ((glucose − 100) / 100).

Example scenario

Na 130, glucose 300, factor 1.6 → 130 + 1.6×2 = 133.2 mEq/L.

FAQ

Which factor should I use?

Follow the reference your course or hospital uses; both 1.6 and 2.4 appear in literature.

What about SI glucose (mmol/L)?

Convert to mg/dL (×18) before using this form, or rescale the formula.

Does this fix pseudohyponatremia from lipids/protein?

No — that is a different lab artifact pathway.

Is corrected Na what the lab reports?

Usually the lab reports measured Na; correction is an interpretation step.