I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with small doses of glucagon to increase your BG (during illness for example)? If so, do you have any tips?
I’ve read you can mix the water and solid and keep it in the vial and just use a regular insulin syringe to suck up a few units at a time when needed. I’ve never used glucagon at all before. It just sits in the fridge and expires.
It’s just because I have to go to the dentist soon and have all my wisdom teeth removed. Not all at once, of course, but one at a time. I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to eat enough to keep my BG stable afterwards…
There is certainly some variance from one person to the next, but almost everyone has the same general amount of liver glycogen storage (about 90-110 grams worth). So there isn’t as much variation with glucagon as other things. A lot of it depends on how much liver glycogen you currently have available.
I get ~about a 20 point rise from 5 units of glucagon.
And I have gotten several days from a vial. I used one vial for 5 days after mixing, and it kept working.
Last tip - for the wisdom teeth, make sure your liver glycogen stores are completely full before the procedure. Meaning - big carb meal the night before!
Thanks a lot! I had no idea where to start with this and I kept postponing the procedure due to nerves.
I had read that it was only good for up to 24 hours after mixing, so I’m glad that you pointed out you were able to use it for many days afterwards. It’s rather expensive for a one day thing.
Thanks for sharing this and doing the experiment. I have 2 kits that are expired. Now I know I don’t have to throw it away. I will still use it. Perhaps, do my own micro-dosing with expired glucagon.
why can’t you use liquid carbs if u can’t eat solid food??? Juices, Hershey’s chocolate in milk…all sorts of liquids to get your bg’s up if u mess up with a bolus or your basals…
My daughter had all 4 wisdom teeth removed about 18 months ago. My main concern was lows, particularly after the surgeon told us to avoid sugary liquids the first 48 hrs. As someone else suggested, she had a high carb meal the night before, then we lowered her basal settings 2 hours before she went under. We kept the basal low until the 3rd day, & cut back the boluses for the few carby liquids she took in. She did great, with no lows. I worried a lot for no reason.
Hi Dave44
It’s just I want to be sure that I can be safe. I have no idea how invasive the procedure will be, because it will be the biggest procedure I’ve ever had in my life, and I have never had a hypo where I’ve really needed assistence (I have been helped, but I could have done it by myself if some effort), so that scares me a bit.
I’ve been confused before from a hypo, where I tried to get out of my bedroom by climbing up to the window and struggling to get behind the curtains thinking it was the door. I eventually figured out why it didn’t work. It’s a bit funny when I think back at it, but it was pretty scary when it happened, like reality was warped and didn’t make sense.
@Lemonz
How old are you?
ie - younger is [generally] easier. Dentist / Oral Surgeon has told me that ever year past 18 years of age the removal progressively gets more difficult due to the teeth becoming more and more embedded in the jaw. Obviously every case is different and unique to the patient so that is only a very general concept.
Certainly different dentists do things differently. My experience is if there are no unusual complications then the Oral Surgeon would recommend to get all four teeth out at once.
Wow! This happened to me too! I woke up pretty low facing the wrong way on my bed, and I remember banging on the window wondering why I couldn’t get out. I thought my door had turned into a window… funny how our brains can act with a low blood sugar. It sounds absolutely insane now.
I don’t even remember diabetes factoring into the equation when I got my wisdom teeth removed. I had all four removed at once, and all were impacted so there was a lot of swelling. I think I had to see an oral surgeon rather than a dentist because they were impacted.
It all healed up fine though, and I could drink sugar drinks if necessary. I was 16 at the time though. I’ve heard that it can get worse as you get older.
If u want to be “safe” please REDUCE your insulin dosages! If u are getting as low as you say, why aren’t you doing the first thing that comes to mind, which is to reduce dosing, especially for the day of a procedure? Better not to light a fire, then worry about how many extinguishers you can get your hands on, eh?
Hi Tim35
Ah, I actually didn’t know this. I’m 28, so hopefully it won’t be too bad…
Oh, okay. She was just talking about getting them removed one or two at a time. I will ask her about it, if there is no problem getting all out. I just want to be done with it… Lol.
That low I was talking about was an unrelated night time low, after I had been hiking all day. I just meant that I don’t want to experience anything similar again, especially if I have problems eating. That episode has just made me overly worried, I guess.
I have actually never had use for glucagon in the 14 years I’ve had diabetes, so it’s unlikely I will now (I will reduce the basal before). I also have never had a problem with eating when I needed to, and I’ve never had a large procedure done before, so I have no idea what to expect afterwards. I also live alone, so there won’t be anyone to help me if anything happens.
I don’t see how being prepared should be a problem. The worst thing that will happen is that I have an unused glucagon kit in the fridge.
I haven’t used glucagon since the 1980’s. However, when we fly or go hiking, my wife carries glucagon in case either of us should need it. Skittles is the “go to” fix for low bg’s when we are out and about. Even if I dip down into the 40’s and 50’s. I see no point in not being prepared. However, I have a big problem with those espousing using glucagon on a “regular” basis in lieu of food, when they can feed themselves.
What is that supposed to mean? What non-diabetics use Glucagon? We aren’t talking about what your body produces–we have been discussing the usage of a prescriptive Glucagon when food (IMO) is a more reasonable solution to low blood sugar.
We have a very limited box of tools at our disposal. IMO, we should get the most out of each of those tools, in whatever way we see fit. It’s an individual choice. In the OP’s case, she’s trying to prepare for any issues in advance. A very smart move.
