Glucagon 101, Teachers as Students

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Glucagon training at school- when teachers become the students.

As we’re preparing for a new school year in a new- ahem… MIDDLE SCHOOL, I started digging through the cabinets in search of expired glucagon emergency kits that I tucked away for exactly this purpose.  I quickly realized why saving select expired D-items comes in handy.

Why Train People in Glucagon Administration?

If a person’s blood sugar is so low that they are unresponsive or having a seizure they’re essentially starving the brain of sugar.  I’d like someone to fix that quickly for my child at school.  If this is your desire, you need to train others and have it available for them to use.

It is incredibly difficult to administer glucagon when a friend, loved one, or a total stranger is having a seizure in front of you.  This is a given no matter who you are- doctor, nurse, mom, or dad.  You will be tachycardic and freaking out; take a deep breath and try your best to keep calm.

In an emergency situation having school personnel call 911 first and then fumbling around with the Glucagon is probably a thoughtful suggestion – and is what we instruct.  What you place in your emergency plan is up to you, your health care provider and your child’s school.  It’s a rarity to have a single responder at school, therefore multiple tasks can be accomplished simultaneously.  Most of the time Emergency Responders will arrive before you have a chance to give it (and everyone is incredibly thankful to see them).

I suggest that you personally practice with it, they usually expire about a year from purchase.  I always save old ones and take them in to train school personnel – school nurses aren’t excluded.  Once expired they are no longer good to use, rendering them a great teaching tool.

In the Glucagon Emergency Kit there’s a vial with powder in it; there’s also a syringe with liquid in it.  You must pop the top off the dry vial, inject the liquid into the vial from the syringe, and mix.  Follow the directions on your individual kits and the prescription which tells you how much to give.  If it’s a small child, you will not give the entire amount.  Your Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) is a wonderful resource for a lesson on how to use it.

Unfortunately, many people bend the needle, break the needle or have difficulties drawing the fluid back because the top of the needle is above the level of the liquid (and they are freaking out- as noted above).  This is the nature of emergency situations and why you should hand pick who you train.

What is Glucagon?

Glucagon is a hormone naturally produced by alpha-cells (as opposed to beta-cells, our insulin makers) in our very busy pancreas.  It aids with the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver, allowing blood sugars to increase.  It has the opposite effect of insulin.

Given externally with a syringe, glucagon is used for severe low blood sugars.  This means the person is either having a seizure or is unable to swallow or respond.

You never want to place something in their mouth due to the risk of choking.  Glucagon can cause nausea and vomiting, so it suggested to place the person on their side in the “recovery position” after it’s given.

Remember, Type 1 Diabetes and glucagon go together (everywhere).