Glucagon and Mini-Dose Glucagon
Glucagon
Food or drink should not be given to a person with low blood glucose if there is a chance he or she might choke. Glucagon is a hormone the body makes that allows sugar that is stored in the body to be released. Glucagon comes in an emergency kit that has liquid in a syringe and powder in a vial.
Give glucagon by injection if the person with low blood glucose:
- Cannot swallow
- Is unconscious
- Is seizing (uncontrollable jerking movements)
How to Give Glucagon by Injection:
- Remove the cap from the vial with the glucagon powder.
- Remove the cap from the needle on the syringe.
- Inject all of liquid in the syringe into the vial with the powder (Picture 1).
- Keep the syringe in the vial while you roll or swirl the vial gently. Do this until the solution is clear.
- If your child is older than 5 years and weighs more than 45 pounds, draw up all of medicine into the syringe. If your child is younger than 5 years or weighs less than 45 pounds, draw up the medicine to the 0.5 mg mark on syringe (Picture 2).
- Inject the medicine under the skin or into the muscle where you would give an insulin injection (See Chapter 6, Insulin Injections, page 28).
- Turn the person on their side. Throwing up (vomiting) may happen after glucagon is given.
- Call 911 (Picture 3).
Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3
Glucagon is a safe medicine to give. If in doubt, give it. |
After Giving Glucagon:
-
Check blood glucose every 15 minutes.
-
When the person is awake and can take food or drink, give 15 grams of carbohydrate.
-
When you can, call the endocrinology office or doctor on call. Insulin doses often need to be changed.
Tips |
Glucagon can be stored at room temperature. Avoid very hot or very cold temperatures when storing. |
It is a good idea to keep glucagon at home and at school. |
Mini-Dose Glucagon
If a person has signs of mild to moderate low blood glucose and cannot eat or is vomiting, a small dose of glucagon may be given to raise the blood glucose. This is called mini-dose glucagon.
Mini-dose glucagon will usually raise blood glucose 50 to 100 mg/dl (points) in 30 minutes without causing nausea.
How to Give Mini-Dose Glucagon:
-
Open the glucagon emergency kit.
-
Mix the liquid with powder as instructed on the lid of the kit.
-
Draw up the glucagon from the vial with an insulin syringe. Measure the correct dose for the person’s age in units using the chart below.
Mini-Dose Glucagon
0 to 2 years old
2 units
3 to 15 years old
1 unit for every year
Example:
3 years old = give 3 units
4 years old = give 4 units16 years and older
15 units
-
Inject the mini-dose of glucagon the same way you would inject insulin (See Chapter 6, Insulin Injections).
-
Store the leftover glucagon in the refrigerator.
-
Check the blood glucose every 15 minutes. If the blood glucose has not started to rise at 15 minutes or is not above 80 mg/dl at 30 minutes, repeat the mini-dose. Make sure this second dose is double the amount of mini-dose glucagon you gave the first time.
-
Give the same amount of mini-dose glucagon injection you gave the first time, every hour as needed, to keep the blood glucose above 80 mg/dl.
-
The glucagon vial can be used for 24 hours after mixing if it is kept in the refrigerator.
-
Throw the mixed glucagon vial away after 24 hours.
Back to the Managing Your Diabetes Resource Book Table of Contents »