In the last year, with the help of Dex, I’ve lowered my a1c to a point at which I can no longer ignore my prescription for a glucagon kit. I’ve been diabetic for 20 years and I have owned a glucagon kit for maybe 5 of them (during which time my mom was resposible for all thingd D related). So, my question for the masses is this: Where to you keep your glucagon kit? Bedside table? Purse? Desk drawer? Diabetes supply closet? Ideas?
Purse for me - esp. since my purse is with me all the time. All my friends and co-workers know where I keep it and how to use it. Luckily I haven’t needed it yet
I keep one with my diabetic supplies I carry with me (pods, PDM, snacks, etc) and a spare at home.
I keep mine at home with my other supplies. I work in a hospital emergency room so carrying one at work isnt really a priority for me.
I generally keep it at home, and only take it with me if I plan to be out, and potentially not near somewhere I could buy sugar. Biking, hiking, traveling, etc.
I always kept it on my nightstand and never needed to use it until one day a year and a half ago. I’ve also been type 1 for 20 years, and never thought I’d have to use it, but I was living alone at the time and experienced a ridiculously fast crashing hypo (wasn’t on CGM at the time and accidentally double dosed - took insulin twice before eating, simply forgot I took it the first time because it had become such a habit…)
Anyway, I was literally passing out as I jabbed myself with the glucagon and woke up a few seconds later. I felt so horrible that I went to the ER and they rushed me into a bed because my white blood count was sky high due to the glucagon. As it turns out, the glucagon messed me up but also saved my life!
Bottom line, I will try my hardest NEVER to use the glucagon unless it’s life or death… that’s how badly it messed me up for a few days afterward… I now have a Dexcom which I consider a complete life-saver and my Omnipod arrives tomorrow!
In the meantime, and to answer your original question, I still keep one on my nightstand and one on top of the fridge (since I instinctively head to the fridge when I get low!)
I have been diabetic for 27 years and just last year I bought 2 kits (I was traveling out of the country with a group), one I have it in my back bag/ laptop bag while the other is in the diabetes shelf.
Reading your question in my e-mail message, I thought " Ya thats a good question, What to do with the glucagon kit AFTER IT EXPIRES?
I keep mine in a side pocket of my D travel bag. Easy to find and see for my husband. This bag sits on a dresser in the bedroom when I’m home and travels with me. Always easy to find. This is good for him cause he can never find thing anything. When he needs it, it needs to be in the same spot for him.
Good question… I’d probably make my boyfriend do a practice run on an orange and then dump everything into the sharps box…
Get two. One for your D bag. It stays on top. Make sure your pharmacy dispenses it in a plastic bag with the label on the bag not covering any of the label, especially covering the side to open.
Set two, on my refrigerator held on with a magnet attached to the back of the glucagon kit.