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If you are an adult with T1D, does someone you live with know how to give you emergency glucagon? (This might include any type of glucagon that you’re prescribed).
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My husband definitely could not administer the old glucagon kit. I now have the nasal version which in theory should be easier. However he has the beginning of dementia so unreliable at best.
Hi Janice –
I will confirm that the nasal version is easier. I hope that helps.
I am sorry about your husband’s dementia. 🙁
Thankful for CGM so I don’t go low enough to need glucagon. I watch my BS and try to keep in range
My wife knows how to administer Baqsimi (nasal powder) and generally understands how an auto-injector words (Gvoke, etc.). I’ve also educated my daughter and her husband (frequent visitors) as well as good friends we sometimes vacation with. Fortunately, I’ve not had to use it/have it used and will obviously do everything to avoid it.
I had an Rx for GEK and my wife was able to use it. She actually administered it once for me over 25 years ago. I don’t have an Rx for the latest glucagon Rx.
She has gotten more squeamish and I don’t think she could do it now. With CGM alarms I don’t think I need it. My wife does hear them and has encouraged me to do some thing about them. Even at night.
My wife has administered Glucagon dozens and dozens of times over the years, and, on occasion has still had to telephone for paramedics to attend when the Glucagon hasn’t had the desired outcome.
We had the Glucagon that had to be mixed before administering. My wife knew how to use it, but never used it. She called the rescue squad once, without using the Glucagon.
Since we have had Gvoke, which is already pre-mixed glucagon, she has used it on me four times. I told my Endocrinologist that my wife has found a new toy.
And, just an aside, I use Tandem Control IQ with Dexcom G6, and still have instances of very low blood glucose, where I need assistance.
I keep Baqsimi on hand. My husband has used it five or six times in the last 21 years. Never called EMT/ambulance for low glucose.
They know where the glucagon kit is. They would have to read the directions first. I don’t have the nasal type. My insurance won’t pay for it.
I am concerned because my endocrinologist changed it to the nasal things and I have yet to know how to use them myself yet. We are fast learners. Kind of need to be with diabetes.
Hi Jen!
I agree. We need to be fast learners!
I replied to Pauline M Reynolds with a detailed reply about using the nasal things.
Baqsimi was super easy!
I am blessed that in 66 years with T1D I have never required glucagon.
Me neither, but only 60 years here. No ambulances or trips to the ER. So my A1c numbers may not have been ideal all these years, I really did stay “in range.” And yes, I would call it blessed.
Amelioration of life or death experiences should not require PhD-level knowledge and complexity.
I do not have glucagon of any type but I wear Tandem pump and Dexcom G6 so I get notified when my BS drops to 90 giving me plenty of time to take care of it. And if I don’t immediately do something my husband will call me or text me and ask if I have done something to correct the situation.
I put unsure be;cause I just ordered Basqimi and my daughter whom I live with has indicated an interest in learning how to use it.
Hi Pauline –
Just to let you know, Baqsimi is very easy to administer. If you’ve ever used any other nasal sprays (like for allergies), it’s similar to that.
– First take it out of the shrink-wrap and open the yellow container.
– hold the tube of medicine between your fingers and thumb
– insert the tip until fingers touch the outside of your nose
– push the plunger firmly all the way in. (I found that it needed some oomph to get it pushed, so they’ve made it so it is not too easy to administer when the tip isn’t all the way in the nose.)
– the directions say the dose is complete when the green line disappears. (As I was doing this by my lonesome, the green line bit got lost on me… my blood sugar was low, after all. ;p ) You WILL know (if you are conscious) when it’s delivered.
There can be side effects from using it. I only ever got the headache. I never experienced nausea or other side effects, but you should know they are possible.
I hope this information helps!
Good luck to you and your daughter!!!
Never had to use it in 52+ T1D years.
Not sure if parents or anyone living or visiting here would be able to administer it, but this is the first time in my life that I have even ever had any available if needed.
Never needed it in my previous 32 years of T1D, so it’s unlikely I’ll need it now, so not worth worrying about.
But current insurance is the first time I’ve ever had insurance that offered any form of glucagon with no copay so for the first time in my life, I said “okay” when my Doctor offered to write the prescription so I’ have some available for self-administration if I was to get too sick to eat and needed glucagon to treat the lows instead of the food I wasn’t able to keep down at the time.
When it was the glucagon that had to mixed and administered with a syringe, there was no interest on my husband’s part in learning to use it. I only filled the Rx once.
The Baqsimi is far easier to use, but he still shows no interest in learning about it. (Although, I’m very sure he could learn and/or just be able to learn as he’s administering it.)
I used it on myself twice and it worked easily even though my brain and muscles were barely functioning!
I asked my husband and he answered that he wasn’t sure. He would have to find my tester first, which is now rarely used, and has never used a syringe in his life. I will hopefully never need the use of that Rx.
I should get that done. Rely too much on the CGM alarm. Have glucagon in my bedroom