Final answer:
Hyperkalemia is managed by reducing dietary potassium intake, using diuretics to increase potassium elimination, and in severe cases, administering glucose and insulin or calcium gluconate intravenously to stabilize the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
To treat hyperkalemia, healthcare providers may suggest several approaches, including a limited intake of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges, and potatoes. Using drugs like diuretics to increase the elimination of potassium through urine. In more severe cases, intravenous administration of glucose and insulin promotes the movement of potassium from the blood into cells. In cases of emergency, calcium gluconate may be administered to protect the heart by stabilizing the heart muscle's electrical activity. It's vital to address hyperkalemia promptly due to its potential impact on muscle function, the nervous system, and especially the heart, where it can cause fatal disturbances in cardiac rhythm.