Calcium gluconate is used in the treatment of high potassium levels primarily to:

Calcium gluconate is primarily used in the treatment of high potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, to stabilize the heart. When potassium levels rise, there is an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias due to the effects of elevated potassium on cardiac myocytes. Calcium plays a crucial role in the cardiac action potential and helps to protect the heart from the dangerous effects of hyperkalemia.

In this context, the administration of calcium gluconate counteracts the effects of high potassium on the heart by stabilizing the membrane potential, which reduces the excitability of cardiac cells and helps prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. It does not directly lower the potassium levels in the body but instead serves to provide immediate support to the heart while other treatments, such as insulin or diuretics, work to lower potassium levels more directly.

Overall, the critical function of calcium gluconate in this situation is to protect the heart during an episode of hyperkalemia, making it an essential component in the management of elevated potassium levels.