Face Very Low Blood Sugar With Confidence

Know the signs and symptoms of very low blood sugar and be ready to treat it at a moment’s notice

What Is Severe Low Blood Sugar?

A severe low blood sugar event is a potentially life-threatening emergency that requires immediate attention¹

If low blood sugar is left untreated, it can progress to severe low blood sugar.

Severe low blood sugar occurs when your blood sugar — the main source of fuel for the body and brain — gets too low for bodily functions to operate properly and requires help to recover.

Severe low blood sugar can be unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to:

Know the signs and symptoms
Have a treatment plan that includes ready-to-use glucagon so that you and those around you can treat very low blood sugar with confidence.

Signs and Symptoms

Severe low blood sugar can progress to loss of consciousness, seizure, coma or death. In addition to checking your blood sugar levels, learn the possible signs and symptoms of a low blood sugar emergency and ensure everyone around you knows what to do in case they need to help you.

Shakiness

Dizziness

Confusion

Combative behavior

Difficulty speaking

Fatigue

Passing out

Seizure

Who’s at risk?

Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you could be at increased risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has established factors that can increase your risk of developing hypoglycemia²:

You take medications known to cause low blood sugar like insulin or sulfonylureas
Longer duration of diabetes
Older age
Cognitive impairment (problems with memory or thinking)
Consuming alcohol

Hypoglycemia unawareness (do not feel symptoms of low blood sugar)
Irregular mealtimes
Use of many different types of medications
History of a severe low blood sugar event

How To Treat a Severe Low Blood Sugar Event

Work with your healthcare provider to create a plan for managing low blood sugar

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) requires immediate attention. For mild hypoglycemia (blood sugar below 70 mg/dL) or moderate hypoglycemia (blood sugar below 54 mg/dL), it is recommended to treat promptly with 15 grams of oral fast-acting carbohydrates (e.g., glucose tablets or juice).³ Then, retest in 15 minutes and repeat the process until your target blood sugar level is reached.

But there may be times when you need glucagon to treat a severe low. Because glucagon can rapidly reverse severe hypoglycemia, it’s viewed as one of the primary treatments for very low blood sugar.^1,4 It can be used if you⁵:

Have tried correcting with food or drink and it’s not working
Are unable to swallow safely
Feel like passing out
Pass out or have a seizure

Ready-To-Use Glucagon Can Make All the Difference

You need a safety net that can be used the moment it’s needed during a low blood sugar emergency. That’s why the glucagon formulation you decide on with your healthcare provider matters.

If you take insulin or certain diabetes pills known to cause low blood sugar and don’t have ready-to-use glucagon in your treatment plan, talk to your healthcare provider right away.

Here’s why:

1. Guidelines recommend it.^1,3

The American Diabetes Association and Endocrine Society say that the use of insulin or certain diabetes pills known to cause low blood sugar puts you at an increased risk of hypoglycemia and recommend that you have a prescription for glucagon.

2. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan.

Managing blood sugar levels is challenging, no matter how dedicated you are to your treatment plan. Severe low blood sugar can happen unexpectedly — so it’s critical to be ready to treat it.

3. Simple administration matters.

Glucagon is typically administered in an emergency, so ease of use is important.¹ Ready-to-use glucagon enables simpler administration during low blood sugar emergencies.^1,3

Gvoke HypoPen^® Is the Ready-to-Use Rescue Pen You Need in Your Toolkit

You’ve likely heard about rescue pens for severe allergic reactions. Did you know the same type of tool is available for low blood sugar emergencies?

Gvoke HypoPen is a ready-to-use glucagon rescue pen for very low blood sugar. It is 2 simple steps to administer⁵— in fact, it was used correctly by 99% of people in a study designed to simulate an emergency,⁶ and you can even self-administer it in certain cases.

Learn more about Gvoke HypoPen

*Demonstration device shown.

REFERENCES:

1. McCall AL, Lieb DC, Gianchandani R, et al. Management of individuals with diabetes at high risk for hypoglycemia: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023;108(3):529-562.doi:10.1210/clinem/dgac596
2. ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, et al. 4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023 [published correction appears in Diabetes Care. 2023 Jun 25;:]. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Suppl 1):S49-S67. doi:10.2337/dc23-S004
3. ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, et al. 6. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Suppl 1):S97-S110. doi:10.2337/dc23-S006
4. Treatment of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed June 21, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/treatment-low-blood-sugar-hypoglycemia.html
5. Gvoke HypoPen [instructions for use]. Chicago, IL: Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
6. Valentine V, Newswanger B, Prestrelski S, Andre AD, Garibaldi M. Human Factors Usability and Validation Studies of a Glucagon Autoinjector in a Simulated Severe Hypoglycemia Rescue Situation. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019;21(9):522-530. doi:10.1089/dia.2019.0148

Indication and Important Safety Information⁠—⁠Read More

Indication

GVOKE (glucagon) is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar in adults and children ages 2 years and above with diabetes.

Important Safety Information

Do not use GVOKE if you:

- Have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys, called a pheochromocytoma because of the risk of a substantial increase in blood pressure
- Have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma because of the risk of low blood sugar
- Are allergic to glucagon or any inactive ingredient in GVOKE. Stop using GVOKE and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as rash, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure

Before using GVOKE, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and your medical conditions, including if you have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation), have low blood sugar that does not go away (chronic hypoglycemia), or have a history of a skin rash called necrolytic migratory erythema (commonly associated with glucagon-producing tumors)
The most common side effects reported in adults are nausea, vomiting, swelling at the injection site, and headache
The most common side effects reported in children are nausea, low blood sugar, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, high blood sugar, pain or redness at injection site, and hives
Inform caregivers on the Instructions for Use of GVOKE, and symptoms of severe hypoglycemia, which include unconsciousness and seizures or convulsions
Store in original container until time of use, and at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20° C to 25° C)
You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088

Please talk to your doctor and see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information Guide for GVOKE.

Gvoke®, Gvoke HypoPen®, Xeris Pharmaceuticals®, the droplet design, and their associated logos are trademarks of Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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