To Prepare Glucagen

For Injection:

Glucagen HypoKit includes:

• 1 vial containing 1 mg Glucagen powder (glucagon [rDNA origin] for injection)
• 1 prefilled disposable syringe with attached needle containing 1 mL solvent (sterile water) for reconstitution

The vial with Glucagen in it has a protective plastic cap. You must remove the plastic cap to inject the water and mix the Glucagen. If the cap is loose or missing when you buy the package, return it to your local pharmacy.

Use the prefilled disposable syringe that comes in Glucagen HypoKit, with the attached needle, to mix the Glucagen and sterile water before giving the injection.

Step 1. Take the orange plastic cap off the vial of Glucagen. 

Step 2. Pull the needle cover off the needle.

Step 3. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper (within the marked circle) of the vial containing Glucagen and inject all the liquid from the syringe into the vial. 

Step 4. Without taking the syringe and needle out of the vial, gently shake the vial in your hand until the powder dissolves completely. The liquid should be clear. Do not use if the liquid has any particles in it or it is not clear.

Step 5. Without taking the syringe and needle out of the vial, turn the vial upside down. Keep the needle in the liquid. Gently pull back on the plunger and slowly withdraw all the liquid into the syringe. Do not pull the plunger out of the syringe. This helps prevent the medicine from leaking out of the syringe.

• The usual dose for adults and children who weigh more than 55 pounds (25 kg) is 1 mg (1 mL). Withdraw the liquid to 1 mL mark on the syringe.

• The usual dose for children who weigh less than 55 pounds (25 kg) is 0.5 mg (half of the adult dose). Withdraw the liquid to the 0.5 mL mark on the syringe for these children. 

If you do not know how much the child weighs:

• Give a child under 6 years of age 0.5 mg (0.5 mL).
• Give a child 6 years of age and older 1 mg (1 mL).

Step 6. Keep the needle in the liquid inside the vial. Remove any air bubbles in the syringe by flicking the syringe with your finger. Gently push on the plunger to move any air bubbles out of the syringe and into the vial.

Continue pushing the plunger until you have the correct dose as described in Step 5. If the plunger is pushed below the needed dose, pull back the plunger until you have the correct dose. When you have a correct amount of Glucagen in the syringe, take the syringe with the attached needle out of the vial.

To Inject Glucagen:

Step 7. Choose an area for injection. Commonly used areas include: the buttock, arm, or thigh. Insert the needle into the loose tissue at the injection site, and inject the Glucagen.

After Giving the Glucagen Injection:

Step 8. Withdraw the needle and press on the injection site.

Place the used syringe with attached needle in a sharps container (such as a red biohazard container), a hard plastic container (such as a detergent bottle), or a metal container (such as an empty coffee can). Seal the container and throw it away the right way. There may be state and local laws about the right way to throw away used syringes and needles. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to throw away used syringes and needles. Throw away any Glucagen you do not use.

Step 9. Turn the person on their side. When an unconscious person awakens, they may vomit. Turning the person on their side will lessen the chance of choking.

Step 10. Call for emergency medical help right away

Step 11. Feed the person as soon as they are awake and able to swallow. Give the person a fast-acting source of sugar (such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice) and a long-acting source of sugar (such as crackers and cheese or a meat sandwich). If the person does not awaken within 15 minutes, give another dose of Glucagen using a new kit.

Step 12. Even if the Glucagen treatment awakens the person, tell their doctor right away. The doctor should be told whenever a severe hypoglycemia reaction happens. The person’s dose of diabetes medicine may need to be changed.

Hypoglycemia may happen again after receiving Glucagen treatment.

Early symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

• sweating
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• sleep disturbances
• irregular heartbeat (palpitation)
• anxiety
• tremor
• blurred vision
• hunger
• slurred speech
• restlessness
• depressed mood
• tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue
• irritability
• abnormal behavior
• lightheadedness
• unsteady movement
• inability to concentrate
• personality changes
• headache

If not treated early, hypoglycemia may worsen and the person may have severe hypoglycemia. Signs of severe hypoglycemia include:

• confusion
• unconsciousness
• seizures
• death