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If you are an adult with T1D, does someone that you live with know how to administer glucagon?
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Yes, but I haven’t used it since I was a child. 50+ years since then.
I said yes, but in 65 years with T1D it has never been necessary. I am thankful for CGM Alarms.
Both glucagon and Baqsimi, which would be preferable.
They are both glucagon. Baqsimi is just a nasal form of glucagon.
Yes, but he would have to read the directions. I have never had to use it and I wish it were not so expensive.
I keep Baqsimi in the house instead of glucagon. Much easier to use if needed. Have not use glucagon since the early 1990s. 65 years T1
Hi Gloria. Baqsimi is glucagon.
No, at least I don’t think so—haven’t really kept any in the house since back when I was on R/NPH and scary lows were more of a threat. Wife and I went over the instructions together but I think if I’d actually needed it she’d probably be too flustered to deal with it. After leaving that horrid regimen behind I’ve been a lot less concerned about getting into a situation where just eating some carbs wouldn’t take care of it.
I recently was able to get the nose spray. Much easier for family member to administer if needed.
My type 1 16 yr old son knows how to give a glucogon in an emergency. (We are both type 1 and my 12 yr old son as well)
My answer is no, since I’ve never had any.
Wow! Congrats! I went 3 years before having a severe low bg requiring medical treatment. After I had one severe low bg, my brain adjusted and I begin to have them with increasing frequency….to the point of once per month.
Can this turn one into an epilelptic? I found Dilantin (pretty safe drug) prevented seizures but that is not prescribed for me. Dilantin also stopped enjoyment of all alcoholic beverages. It’s cheap.
I do not use glucagon. My wife does not like needles. She uses oral glutose/glucose gels, or feeds me sucrose. I have not been unconscious with a diabetic reaction in more than 25 years.
Glucagon also comes in a nasal spray. I am glad you haven’t had a reaction in many years.
On T1 diagnosis, the Endo prescribed Baqsimi. In the middle of explaining it’s use, she realized she was talking to me vice my wife and she was instructing the wrong person. She stopped mid-sentence, looked at my wife, and said, “Of course, you’ll be the one using this, because he’ll be unconscious on the floor.” THAT brought it front and center for both of us! A slight smile/laugh amongst the three of us, but reality just smacked us upside the head!
We rent a beach house with my daughter’s in-laws at the end of each summer. On arrival last year, I took them aside and briefly explained how to use the Baqsimi if they ever found me unconscious while there. While they knew I’m T1, need to control carbs, and have been great about helping me at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the like, I think it really brought home how serious the situation could get. Fortunately, I’ve never had to use the stuff…yet!
The person would be able to administer the basic fluid in the syringe but would not be able to mix everything up.
The new glucogons need no mixing and Baqsimi is a spray administered in a nostril. So much easier now.
When my spouse was alive, she lived with me and knew, but now I am alone. However, I’ve never needed glucagon except in the fairly distant past.
I am a senior with T1D and live alone. It is definitely a big fear. My husband and I used to do T1D together, he was one of the longest living T1Ds in the country. I keep candy beside the bed, in my purse, in the car, in the kitchen and use the Abbott Freestyle Libre which helps me day and night.
I have shown my husband many times but due to short term memory issues I do not trust in a crisis he would be able to administer.
I currently with people who know how, but am moving soon & then it will be just me and DAD.
Another simple question in search of a simple yes or no answer. Arggghh! Would that real life were that bastian of boolian simplicity.
My preferred answer is that wonderful German phrase “Jein.”
My spouse, alas and alack, lives in the real world, not the black or white make believe world. She has been instructed in where the GVoke is located. Being bed-ridden, she would struggle to remember in which refrigerator in which corner of it the GVoke is ensconced. The psychic jungle in which she lives—if you can trully call being bed-ridden living—gives me pause to answer “yes.” …ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ ٩(◦`꒳´◦)۶ ╰། ᵒ̌ д ᵒ̌ །╯
Ahh Life, what is GVoke? I hope you have relatives or neighbors regularly helping you and your “significant other”. Have you considered a practical nurse dropping in every so often? Catholic Community Services? Do you have room for a couple or someone to move in with you in exchange for reduced (or free) rent? I know a responsible married couple who met a 97 year old guy in their religious community. They drive him to medical appts, run errands for him, are available in case of any emergency…in return he gives them a free place to live in Seattle, where rents and houses very high.
I answered no. My husband could probably figure it out if necessary, but we are not sure about that. Never needed it in all of 60 years, but Ii keep buying it.
The Gvoke auto-inserter I have now, yes—-but years of the red glucagon kit that needs to be mixed, put in syringe and injected—no way. I’m thankful for medical advances and insurance that covers it.
I’m not familiar with GVoke. What is this?
I don’t have any glucagon. After nearly 55 years with T1, I function well enough when my blood sugar is super low to take care of myself. No need for glucagon.
T1 for 36 years. Never had it in the house and did wonder if anyone would figure it out in time.
My (RN) fiancée knows how but if I’m incapacitated enough to need it, I won’t let anyone get near me.
They could follow the instructions (of the convoluted item) if necessary, but, currently, I do not have a glucagon package in the house.
Yes, but I no longer have it available. I’ve never needed it in the 66+ years of living with T1 D.
My husband saved my life more than once by administering glucagon. This was when I was on MDI and had increasingly severe and frequent hypo episodes. Ever since I bagan using an insulin pump in 2011, I haven’t experienced any really serious hypoglycemic episodes where I couldn’t help myself. We still keep a glucagon pen handy…just in case. Pumping has given me better control overall with less overall insulin. I have been a Type 1 since 1976.
Hopefully I won’t jinx myself, but I have never had glucagon. I have my trusty cans of Dole pineapple juice with me at all times (bedside, kitchen, car, etc.), but in all honesty, never came close to passing out. My Dexcom alerts me when I’m heading toward a scary low and I go with the juice and some carbs as needed.
My husband has learned and we’ve reviewed but never have needed it.
For me, the most important take away from this discussion is how many folks with T1D for decades have never needed any. I’m a newbie, only nine years, and I always find your comments helpful and inspiring. Thank you. I have Baqsimi. I think my husband understands how to administer it, but my concern is if he’ll be too emotionally stressed to think clearly and remember where it is and what to do.
I have Glucagon but my husband would use Baqsimi as it seems less painful and just as effective…
I live alone and prior to getting a pump I had some severe lows that could have been helped with glucagon but I was unable to do that myself, so I never kept it on hand. I know there are newer kinds of glucagon now, including the nasal one, that one could use on themself but with my pump & CGM I have not had a dangerous low like before in a number of years.
Also, my insurance doesn’t cover any kind of glucagon!
I answered no but I do not have a glucagon kit at home.
My husband was trained by a nurse in my doctor’s office but he was very clumsy with the measuring and mixing. I sensed he could not be counted on to administer glucagon in an emergency so I coached him to say “Bring glucagon” when calling 911. There was a question recently on this forum that caused me to pick up the case of glucagon we have here for emergencies. It turned out to be expired. I told him this was a good chance to practice with the real thing but he was not interested in trying. I have only had T1D for 6 years and he is like in denial that I have it.
How sad he is in denial. By the way, if you can get prescribed a new glucagon, there is no measuring and no need to even inject if you get Baqsimi which is just squirted up a nostril like a regular nasal spray.
Yes, but this is “I assume” along with a hope to never find out.
I’ve never had a supply of glucagon in the 55 years of T1D. While I live with my husband, I answered ‘no’. If I had a supply, then he would know how to administer it.
Living by myself no needed for one. When my diabetic life started read a TYPE1 that’s just trying doesn’t risk the worse case scenario. The “worse case scenario” is death.
But with everything I’ve read and seen, with the limited range for tight control (a1C 5-7%) that’s not much. Errors are bound to happen, that’s what I plan on. Got sweetened drinks strategically placed, and used those. This MEDTRONIC system relieves a bit of stress.
But read with some meds there’s a bit more risk.
I have Gvoke HypoPen. I’s as easy as an Insulin pen to use no mixing.
I instructed my mom on how to use my Baqsimi and where it is, but if I ever needed it, she may not remember. It would have been wonderful to have my Baqsimi years ago when I actually did need it a few times, but now that I have it, I may not actually need it since my CGM would warn me if my sugar was getting low and my pump would stop giving me insulin.
There are some expired glucagon kits floating around somewhere. Since starting with Dexcom in 2006, there’s been no need.
My husband is knowledgeable regarding nasal glucose. I have never had to use glucagon in my 45 years of being a T1D.