Glucagon Injection

These instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia patients who need to treat low blood sugar with a glucagon injection.

Important Information about glucagon:

• Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood sugar within 10 minutes.

• It works by releasing glucose stored in the liver into the blood.

• It is used in an emergency:

  • When the blood sugar is very low.

  • If your child is not responding to treatment with juice or glucose tablets.

  • When your child is unresponsive, will not cooperate to eat or drink, or it is unsafe to have them eat or drink.

• Your healthcare provider will prescribe the medicine based on your child's age, weight, and pharmacy benefit coverage.

• Glucagon is given as an injection into the muscle (IM). It comes in a kit that includes a syringe, needle, liquid and powder to be mixed right before you give it. For children ages 2 and up, it is also available in a premixed, prefilled syringe (PFS) and an autoinjector that does not require mixing.

• Glucagon keeps the blood sugar up for 1-2 hours.

• Injection may be repeated if needed.

• Side effects of glucagon include:

  • Upset stomach

  • Vomiting - if your child vomits, roll them onto their side to prevent choking

  • Rash

  • Itching

  • Headache

Patient instructions:

• Check the expiration date on the glucagon when you pick it up from the pharmacy.

• Always have a current glucagon kit available.

• In an emergency, you can inject glucagon prepared by kit through your child's clothes. Do not inject glucagon pre-filled syringe or autoinjector through clothing.

Give glucagon when your child has a very low blood sugar and:

• Is weak or is not responding to you.

• Is unconscious or is having a seizure.

• Is vomiting and their blood sugar is very low.

• The blood sugar does not rise within 30 minutes after eating or drinking.

• Will not eat or drink, or there is concern for choking.

Note: When the blood sugar is low, eating or drinking is the first treatment. Only use glucagon when the blood sugar is very low and your child refuses to or cannot eat or drink.

Please refer to the manufacturer instructions below for how to store, prepare, and give the injection:

• Novo Nordisk Glucagon Hypokit

• Frensenius Kabi Glucagon Emergency Kit

• GVoke Kit

• GVoke HypoPen

• GVoke Pre-Filled Syringe

• Zegalogue Autoinjector

• Zegalogue Pre-Filled Syringe

Instructions after giving a glucagon injection:

• If you give glucagon, call your healthcare provider.

• Check your child's blood sugar 15 minutes after giving glucagon.

• Make sure the blood sugar is back in their ideal range.

• If the blood sugar is not back in range or your child does not wake up within 10 minutes, call 911 for immediate medical help.

• Feed your child when they wake up.

• You will not hurt your child by giving glucagon. Your child may have high blood sugar later, and you will need to check their blood sugar more frequently.

Reviewed on February 8, 2023, by Heather McKnight, CRNP; Nicole Stewart, RN; Jaime Gomes, PharmD