Glucagon injection

For a patient with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycaemia, glucagon injection can be given by another person. It is often the treatment of choice in ambulances, and is used in some hospitals. Glucagon injection can also be considered on an individual basis for other types of diabetes requiring insulin (eg diabetes secondary to pancreatic disorder).

All patients with type 1 diabetes and other patients with diabetes who are at risk of developing severe hypoglycaemia should have easy access to a glucagon injection, and their families, carers, or colleagues should be trained to give the injection.

For an unconscious child or adolescent with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycaemia, give:

Glucagon can cause nausea and vomiting as the child regains consciousness. When the child is conscious, oral feeding may start.

If regular oral intake has not been resumed and hypoglycaemia is ongoing, the child should be admitted to hospital (if not already in hospital) for an intravenous glucose infusion.

For an adult with diabetes and severe hypoglycaemia, give:

Unconscious adult patients usually start to respond within 6 minutes of being given glucagon. If there is no response to glucagon, the patient may have insufficient stores of glucose in the liver (eg those with chronic malnourishment or severe liver disease), therefore intravenous glucose is needed. If intravenous glucose is not available immediately, a second glucagon dose may be given to the adult 20 minutes after the first and while waiting for emergency transfer to hospital.

Glucagon can cause nausea and vomiting as the patient regains consciousness.