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Glucagon

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
SB2015

SB2015

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
My glucagon sits in the fridge until it goes out of date and gets replaced.
In what circumstances do any of you take yours with you?
 
SB2015 said:
My glucagon sits in the fridge until it goes out of date and gets replaced.
In what circumstances do any of you take yours with you?
Click to expand...
I don't use it but I think people with T1 take it everywhere they go.....you never know. This is only from YouTube videos n such. I'm no expert.
 
In almost 32 years I've never been offered it or asked for it. Obviously requires a 'competent' person to administer it if you're out of it in hypoland. I've had it administered by a paramedic when they were called out but it seems to be one of those things that isn't routinely offered.
 
Nope, I don’t carry glucagon, never have, though my mum always kept a shot in the fridge. Like Matt, I’ve had it administered in an ambulance after a fit, but JBs are so swift at giving me a boost, and with the Libre pointing out imminent disaster, I’ve no need for it.

The problem with glucagon is you must eat afterwards. If you don’t, you lose the liver’s self preservation stash of glucose, which has saved me a couple of times.
 
I agree with Mike re the eating after - in my case we have to get the projectile vomiting out the way first though. Haven't needed it for 10 years now and having chucked the last expired lot out the other day (have to open the box, syringe of sterile water down the sink, syringe in sharps bin, vial back to pharmacy for disposal, paper instructions in the recycling, box in the non-recycling bin. A lot of palaver to dispose of unused and out of date!

However - I still want that safety net in my fridge. Always take the kit on hols in the Frio with the insulin or in the |Moho fridge as appropriate. Once I get to that stage where nothing less will work - it really has been invaluable - so although I did have a discussion with myself whether to replace it or not - I decided to for my own peace of mind.

Pete likes my bum anyway and is very proficient - though a bit too 'enthusiastic' for insulin pens and me, in my book! Removing ladies underwear has never been a prob - well is it to any grown man? LOL - but with two daughters a niece and 6 grand daughters at all sorts of times at all ages - he's simply got done whatever needed doing!
 
Mine sits in the fridge and I occasionally remember to replace it. I didn't have it until doing DAFNE, when our partners were shown how to use it. Fortunately never had to - although I am sure the husband would demonstrate a similar level of enthusiasm as Jenny's 🙂
 
I have also never used mine. OH has a go with the kit when it goes out of date and injects an orange before we discard the kit. I just wondered whether I should be taking it in holidays to more remote places, but with the Libre and a good stock OJ JBs I have avoided any emergency admissions so far so have never bothered.
 
I only got some when I started to lose my hypo awareness. I kept it in the fridge for a while, then I thought, this is daft, it keeps for ages out of the fridge (can't remember exactly, but it says on the leaflet), so it's far more sensible to carry it around with me so it's available if anyone needs to use it on me. Having said that, I wouldn't take it if I'm just going to the post office or something, but it stays in my bedroom at night here and if I'm staying overnight anywhere else it comes with me. It lives in my Frio in the summer and spends the rest of the year in the (unchilled) coolbag in which I keep the rest of my insulin kit.

I must get R to do a practice with it when it goes out of date and needs to be replaced though, that's a good idea. I've never yet got him to inject me with insulin, though I've told him the theory for that and the diabetes nurse told him how to use the Glucagen. But an actual practice would be very sensible, if I can think of something for him to inject other than an orange (I'm allergic to citrus, so couldn't have an orange in the house with me).
 
Yeah practice, you have to inject the water into the vial and mix it, then draw it up, then jab and it's a LONG needle!

I don't think you are sposed to dispose of the vial of Glucagon in the household rubbish, even if it is out of date?
 
Mine lives in the fridge but I take it with me whenever we go away anywhere for more than a night. Thankfully never had to use it.

My DSNs were great and invited my hubby to come to a session to go through what to do if it was ever needed - he’s terrified he might have to one day but I’m sure he’d be fine.

Thankfully so far so good and 6 years in no need yet.
 
I’ve always had a kit and take it with me when I travel. I’ll ask for another when my current kit expires...better safe than sorry!
 
I've never carried Glucagon but have had it administered by my GP and by paramedics when help has been needed in the past.

In 1988, I was on a hydrofoil across the Adriatic when the man sitting next to me had to inject his wife with it. It worked very quickly and she was fine for the rest of the trip.
 
What a co-incidence, two type ones on same hydrofoil!

I checked and it lasts for 18 months out of the fridge if kept under 25c, and judging by the use by date on mine, about 24 months in the fridge, so it's really worth carrying it around rather than leaving it in the fridge!
 
I think there's a lesson to be learned here. :D Taking Trophywench out of the equation as an outlier (someone who keeps glucagon and who has used it) then in this thread there's three who don't keep it but have required it - all are men and five who do keep it but haven't required it -all are women. 😉
 
Matt Cycle said:
I think there's a lesson to be learned here. :D Taking Trophywench out of the equation as an outlier (someone who keeps glucagon and who has used it) then in this thread there's three who don't keep it but have required it - all are men and five who do keep it but haven't required it -all are women. 😉
Click to expand...

I can't speak for the others but my wife would not have a clue, or be able, to administer Glucagon if she ever had to.

I have usually kept a few Hypostop gels - but more recently, the nurses have told me to use a drink of fruit juice, a wee can of Coke and/or jelly babies. So I keep a supply of those - but others in the house keep helping themselves to them. 😡
 
I have only used it in a real emergency where without it, it would have been 999 - I have no recollection of any jabs of it being administered since I was completely 'out of it' at those times - though I remember 'before' and 'after' clearly.

I've not been in a situation where I could have said 'Oooh, I think you'll have to get the Hypokit, sweetheart' LOL

It's been a good many years.

BUT it can - and does happen - so that's been the deciding factor for me. Of course if it never had happened - then I'd feel differently - just as I did prior to circumstances arising where having one should have saved a 999 call-out.

It's like ketone testing - it was just something I'd never needed to do before last October. I only have BG that high by accident - eg last night - tested before dinner which was only a toasted sandwich - and I was 3.9 so the trusty Roche pump handset/meter of course then won't even calculate a bolus let alone let you administer one. Can do it manually of course but when it's cheese and ham - that would be foolish cos the bread carbs won't get there anytime soon.

Well of course - I forgot cos I was more interested in the Lifeboat prog on TV - so by the time I eventually remembered it was hours and hours later though I was only 10 by then, so 1 and a bit units and the same before bed.

Had it been 15+ I still wouldn't have ketone tested cos all you do is correction doses and drink water until it abates, anyway, when you are 100% certain it's purely temporary.
 
I only take it on holiday. It’s there in case I have a bad night time hypo, which hasn’t happened since I went on the pump. I think
I might manage without it when this one expires. Come to think of it... the pharmacist has stuck the label over the expiry date.


...06/2017. Ah well.
 
Infuriates me when they do that Radders!

Ah well, dismantle and dispose as necessary.
 
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