[Diabetes-talk] about Glucagon

[Ed Bryant]

Hi Folks,

                A good while back, there was information carried on this
list about using glucagon.  This info is stored somewhere in our archives.
This might serve as a refresher.

 

Glucagon is made by Eli Lilly and Company and requires a doctor's
prescription.

 

1.       It should be stored at room temperature between 68 to 77 degrees
Fahrenheit. 

2.       It is injected into a muscle and raises blood glucose rapidly. 

3.       When is it needed?  When blood sugars are dangerously low, severe
hypoglycemia.  You might be unconscious, and cannot eat any sugar sweetened
products.  

4.       When to use: Use glucagon to treat insulin coma, or insulin
reaction resulting from severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  Symptoms of
severe hypoglycemia include disorientation, unconsciousness, and seizure or
convulsions.  Give glucagon if 1.) the patient is unconscious, 2.) the
patient is unable to eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product,  3.)the patient
is having a seizure, 4.) repeated administration of sugar or a sugar
sweetened product such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice does not
improve patient's condition.  Milder cases of hypoglycemia should be treated
promptly by eating sugar-sweetened product.  Glucagon is not active when
taken orally.

5.       Directions:

a.       Seal needs to be taken off bottle, and the rubber stopper needs to
be wiped off with alcohol swab.

b.      The needle protector needs to be removed, and the contents of
syringe needs to be injected into the glucagon bottle.  The syringe, then
needs to be removed from bottle.  

c.       The bottle needs to be swirled until glucagon is completely
dissolved.  It should only be used if the glucagon is clear and water-like.

d.      The same syringe should be used and the bottle needs to be held
upside down, and the solution needs to be drawn into the syringe.  Put all
the contents of the bottle into syringe.  

e.      Cleanse the injection site with alcohol swab.

f.        Insert needle into loose tissue under cleansed injection site, and
inject all contents.  

g.       Turn patient on his/her side, in case of vomiting

h.      Give patient food or sweet drinks as soon as he/she awakens and is
able to swallow.  Repeat as needed.

I recommend all insulin using diabetics have glucagon  in case of severe
hypoglycemia.  The doctor should be called, but if patient has been treated,
and is coming out of the low, there may not be a need to get he/she to the
hospital.

 

Note: I have had glucagon administered several times by my wife, and have
never went to the hospital.  I check my blood sugar regularly, after having
glucagon administered to make sure it is not getting too low.  

                Incidentally, my wife who is totally blind, has administered
glucagon several times.  A good while back, my diabetologist, authorized her
to be shown how to use glucagon, and she has again several times drawn up
glucagon, and given me the shot.  

 

Regards,

Ed Bryant