When to Give Glucagon

When is it necessary to give a glucagon injection? Although the best treatment for severely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is an intravenous sugar solution, such as glucose or dextrose, extremely low blood sugar can strike at inconvenient times and places. For this type of treatment to be an immediate option, the person usually needs to be in a medical facility already. Thus, if such treatment is not immediately available, glucagon should be given.

 

Once you give a person a glucagon injection, he or she will usually awaken within 15 minutes. As soon as the person is awake and able to eat, it is crucial that he or she be given something to eat, including both a "fast" source of sugar (such as a soft drink) and a "slow source" (such as a sandwich). Be sure to contact the person's healthcare provider right away for further instructions.