I used to until very recently, but I was going through the medicine cabinet and realized it had already expired (I won’t even say how OLD it was…)
I just wonder, with paramedics being a phone call away (in case of emergency), what do you guys think about having glucagon at home.
It probably depends on one’s hypo awareness and overall control. With 31 yrs T1, I’ve never used (or even owned) glucagon and I’ve never required paramedics. But if I ever did, I’d have glucagon on my shopping list the next day.
I concur with Ken. I’ve had diabetes for almost 20 years and I’ve never owned (or required) glucagon. But if I were one of those people who has a hard time sensing hypoglycemia, I’d get one for sure.
My mom has always carried the glucagon around in her purse. This was in case I had a real bad low at school or something, she could rush over with it. I always carry glucose tabs and juice anyway. Besides, by the time I need the glucagon I probably won’t be in any condition to use it. Kind of ironic, I guess. I think a glucagon is a handy thing for a parent/guardian/significant other to have around, should you get to the point where you can’t fix it yourself. I sure can’t be expected to handle a needle when I’m babbling like an idiot.
We have one in the kitchen, one in my purse, and one in his diabetes bag that we carry with us-so umm yeah we’ve got us some glucagon!
I have 1 at home all the time and 1 in my purse. I love the idea b/c parametics cost alot of money and really my family can do this shot and bring me back out of a sezer or what ever, then after that I know what to do with the high it causes.
I was never prescribed a kit, although I was given detailed instructions on how to use one by my CDE. I guess I haven’t really thought about it. Because I live alone, there is no one around to give it to me anyway. Even if I went low in public (and had one on me), there are very few people who would even know what it was, much less how to use it. I guess, I would hope it would never come to that.
I do my best to avoid calling paramedics. It has been done and I’m sure it will be done again. But that event will usually take about 4-5 hours and is usually in the middle of the night. If a glucagon will do the trick and everything is all taken care of within a hour & 1/2…that means I can get back to sleep.
I Hail the Almighty Glucagod!
I used to call EMTs all the time for my husband. But, as previously noted, they cost $, takes a great deal of time because if they tap him w/ IV, we’re going to the hospital, it’s policy. That means we do a lot of waiting and he will not be released until he has eaten something and his BS looks good. As I said, I can do this at home with a glucagon, some juice and a sandwich. As long as he’s conscious and breathing, I can get him out of danger.
I’m a nervous mom, so we have a Glucagon kit that I keep in a bag that we have for Riley. It’s at our house. But, whenever we leave the house we take the bag with us. And, Riley’s teacher has a Glucagon kit in her drawer at school. So, basically, there is a Glucagon kit wherever Riley goes. I hope to never have to use it, but if the need arises, I want to have it handy. Everyone who keeps Riley has been trained to use it also.
And, whenever I get a kit I write the expiration date on my calander. When it expires, I get another.
i have always had a kit at home, but do not currently —in 33 years i have needed it once—i was about 7 yrs old at the time. I had a refill but got mugged and it was in my purse…so i need to get a new prescription. I like the thought of having it around.
We have one in the diabetes bag that I carry with us everywhere we go and Isabelle’s teacher has one at school. I think when you have little ones it is definately a must! When you have to rely on a 3 year old to tell you they are feeling bad you have to have some backup. 
In my initial Diabetes training (1976 Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle), we were taught that if a Diabetic ever passed out due to a hypo, someone should turn them on their side and put 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar on the inside of their cheek. It would dissolve and they’d absorb it, awakening in a few minutes. Glucagon probably wasn’t readily available back then.
I live alone, like Chloe, so there doesn’t seem to be a point. And I don’t trust anyone at my work to know the difference between high and low bloodsugar. I’d rather they call an ambulance if something goes wrong.
I used to keep a glucagon kit when I lived with my parents. We only used it once in fifteen years, and they still ended up calling an ambulance. I learned the very important lesson never to take a nap when I have a headache without testing first.
I was prescribed glucogon when I first started on the pump but luckily I have never needed it. I kept one at home and one in my desk at work. My husband works in my office so he learned how to use it and taught some of my coworkers just in case he wasnt there if I needed it.
I threw the one at home away becasue it expired in 2004. The other expired one is still sitting in my desk drawer. My husband figured even if its expired, in an emergency its worth a shot.
Does anyone know if they still work after they expire? I dont want to keep buying new ones when the odds are I wont use it.
I have never used one in all the years I’ve been a T1 (21 years) so I have never felt the need to have one. I’ve only been severly dangerously low maybe 3 times and since I was still conscious, my husband just gave me juice and I was ok.
But, we actually discussed this on yesterday and I’m thinking of keeping one in the house just in case.
I keep one in my purse, in my car, and at home. I went through a period of severe anxiety and I felt safer having a kit everywhere I could be. I change them out when the expire. The funny thing is…I’ve never used one. Knock on wood I wont ever have to!
I’m 33 years along now and lived alone for long periods of time. I used to have it, but never used it. Recently a friend from the OC sent me a kit, so now it’s in the cupboard again.
But, man, that needle is horribly big!
Mine’s in the fridge, and I’ve always had one there since the day I started insulin. I’m not sure it’s worth it though… I live with my 11 year old son, who would probably manage to use it if he had to but would be scared to death of it; and my boarder who I suspect wouldn’t handle it at all although I’ve taught him how to use it (a year ago!). I wouldn’t blame either of them if they couldn’t use it - even I have to look at it every now and then and remind myself what to do with it!
Everyone has strict orders to call an ambulance if I’m conked out, and to stick some sort of sugary stuff on my lips (but no food that I could choke on in my mouth). So long as they call an ambulance I’m a happy chappy - at least I know there’ll be someone who knows what they’re doing!
My friend and father are both diabetic, so there’s another reason to keep one handy and refresh my memory on how to use them. Hope I never need to though. I think it’d be scarier to use it on someone else than it would be to have someone use it on me!
I keep getting new ones when they expire even though I’ve never had a use for them yet. I’d rather have one and not use it, than need it and not have it.
My thoughs exactly.
Wow - had you given this person previous instx on how to use it? Or did they just quickly read the directions.