Pharmacology Update: Emergency Medications for Hypoglycemia in Diabetes

Children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are at risk for severe hypoglycemia, an unpredictable and potentially life-threatening situation. Severe hypoglycemia creates low blood glucose levels in which a person has an altered mental status or physical symptoms that require assistance from another individual to treat the hypoglycemia. Treatment of severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency and prompt treatment is important for the well-being of students with diabetes. If left untreated, severe hypoglycemia can lead to death. Glucagon is a medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia outside of a healthcare facility. Recently, more stable and easier to use formulations of glucagon have become available. The purpose of this pharmacology update is to describe two new formulations of ready to use glucagon: an intranasal and subcutaneous, autoinjector formulation.