Residing with sort 1 diabetes (T1D) requires you to assume forward and be ready for all sorts of conditions, together with hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). For those who’re like most individuals with diabetes, you might have a glucagon equipment or two available simply in case your blood glucose goes critically low.
For those who haven’t used glucagon earlier than, the considered doing so may make you nervous or anxious. You may even really feel proud that you just’ve managed to not want it this far. Whereas utilizing emergency glucagon could be scary given the circumstances, it’s not one thing to be ashamed of.
What’s glucagon?
Made by the alpha cells within the pancreas, glucagon is a hormone that tells the liver to launch sugar into your blood to keep away from hypoglycemia. Nonetheless, this preventative perform doesn’t work accurately when you might have T1D.
There are a number of forms of glucagon out there, which embrace:
Gvoke, which comes as a hypopen or pre-filled syringe (PFS)
Baqsimi, which is a nasal spray
Zegalogue, which is an auto-injection pen or PFS
It’s additionally essential to know that you don’t want to be unconscious to make use of glucagon. Different occasions when it is likely to be applicable embrace:
For those who can’t eat or drink attributable to a abdomen virus, nausea, and many others
For those who by chance give an excessive amount of insulin
In case your blood sugar continues to drop though you ate a considerable amount of meals
All through your life with diabetes, you may even want glucagon greater than as soon as. That’s been the case for Linda Reiter, who has had T1D for almost 65 years.
Linda’s glucagon expertise
As a baby, Linda usually had in a single day lows, which required glucagon to deal with. With the assistance of her steady glucose monitor (CGM), in a single day lows have decreased, however she nonetheless often wants glucagon.
“There are occasions when both I’ve sunk too low and may’t do something for myself, or I do know it’s heading down actual rapidly, and I do know I’ve gotta try this Gvoke pen. They’ve been lifesavers for me,” she mentioned.
Reiter has tried quite a lot of glucagon merchandise however prefers Gvoke as she tolerates it finest. She says after taking glucagon, it usually takes about half-hour earlier than she will stand up and stroll round and about an hour earlier than she is in a position to return to work, clear, or do different chores. She shared that after taking glucagon, she tends to really feel sluggish and thirsty and develops a headache, although she doesn’t usually really feel unhealthy sufficient that it impacts her means to get work finished.
Elyse’s glucagon expertise
Elyse Vandersteen has wanted glucagon two occasions since being identified 18 years in the past. She was aware in each conditions however was not in a position to get her blood glucose up. The primary time, she ate for an hour earlier than getting sick due to how a lot she had eaten. She then referred to as the endocrinology helpline at her clinic, which informed her to refill a syringe with 50 items of glucagon. She didn’t must take all the glucose within the PFS as a result of she was nonetheless aware.
The opposite episode was brought on by by chance taking 20 items of insulin as a substitute of getting into 20 grams of carbohydrates into her pump.
Vandersteen mentioned she skilled a variety of feelings after taking glucagon, from disgrace to aid.
“The primary factor was feeling actually relieved,” Vandersteen mentioned. However the different half was scared nervousness due to how costly [glucagon is]. I used to be simply irritated at myself for ‘letting it occur’ when clearly it’s out of our management. We will’t management how our physique goes to react, if it was like the correct amount [of insulin given],” she continued.
Vandersteen additional defined that the second time she wanted to take glucagon, she had simply gotten her personal insurance coverage plan and wasn’t certain if she might afford the remedy. She used the leftover glucagon from the primary time she wanted it to keep away from paying for an additional prescription.
“It resulted in me having to make not as good of a call simply due to funds,” she mentioned.
Ginger’s glucagon expertise
After she began taking a GLP-1 remedy, Ginger Vieira’s insulin necessities modified. She had been taking the medication for a couple of month when she ate ice cream and bolused for it like she would have up to now.
“I forgot all about my new insulin routine. And I simply went again to what I’ve been doing for, you already know, 25 years, and I took means an excessive amount of for it. I ate most likely a half pint of Ben and Jerry’s earlier than mattress,” she shared.
“Round midnight, I awoke and the room was spinning. And it was identical to a low, low. I’ve been within the 40s. I’ve been within the 30s and it was nothing like this. It simply was approaching so laborious and so quick. And I ended up going downstairs and I used to be fully useful. However I simply felt so horrible that the one means I used to be going to really feel secure going again to mattress is that if I had glucagon in my system, and I knew that the glucagon was going to guard me,” she continued.
Even with the glucagon in her system, she was scared sufficient that she additionally ate an enormous bowl of cereal. She stayed awake for an additional hour to ensure her blood glucose was going up. Finally, she was in a position to cease panicking and go to sleep, however mentioned it was comforting to know she had Gvoke on board.
Don’t really feel ashamed for utilizing glucagon
Utilizing glucagon can deliver on quite a lot of feelings. Sadly, a typical one is disgrace, possible since you really feel partly accountable for your blood glucose going low. However like Vandersteen mentioned, you possibly can’t management how our our bodies reply to issues like train, insulin or hormones. Glucagon is simply one other software so as to add to your assortment.
Ask your physician for a prescription
For those who don’t at present have glucagon or it’s expired, speak to your physician about getting a prescription. Be aware that there are copay playing cards for individuals on insurance coverage and affected person assistant applications for individuals who do not have insurance coverage as a way to get emergency glucagon.
Nonetheless, for those who do have insurance coverage, however your organization denies protection, right here’s what to do:
Perceive your rights
Examine the formulary
Request an exception if it’s not coated beneath your plan
File an enchantment
There’s little doubt that dwelling with T1D is difficult. Consider glucagon as a life-saving software that can assist you if you want it most. There’s nothing unsuitable with utilizing this remedy for those who want it; bear in mind, it’s not your fault in case your blood glucose goes extraordinarily low. For those who don’t have glucagon available, be sure to ask your physician for a prescription and use the assets out there for those who need assistance getting it!
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