Potassium and Diabetes

Rutuja Mahajan highlights the role of potassium in blood sugar management

- Rutuja Mahajan

Importance of potassium

Minerals are inorganic elements that are necessary for the body to build tissues, regulate body fluids and assist in various body functions. Potassium is one such mineral. Potassium is an electrolyte that is found primarily in intracellular fluid. The human body contains 30-40 g of potassium, of which 98 per cent exists within cells and most of it within muscles. Like sodium, potassium is essential for fluid balance and body temperature. Potassium maintains the fluid level within the cells and sodium maintains the fluid level outside the cells. To maintain fluid balance and electrolyte balance, osmosis moves the fluid into and out of the cells.

Both sodium and potassium are important in maintaining fluid balance, acid-base balance and osmotic equilibrium. Potassium plays an important role in energy production in cells throughout the body. It is also necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions. Potassium may also help lower blood pressure in hypertensive people.

The kidneys help to maintain the normal serum levels of potassium by filtration, reabsorption and excretion. Approximately 80-90 per cent potassium is excreted via urine and the remaining potassium is excreted through faeces with the help of aldosterone hormone.

Potassium insufficiency