Do You Have the Right Tools to Treat Very Low Blood Sugar?

The American Diabetes Association recently updated its guidelines for healthcare professionals. If you or your loved one takes medications that lower your blood sugar, such as insulin or insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas, meglitinides), it’s important to be aware of the updated guidelines related to hypoglycemia and ready-to-use glucagon. Being informed about the latest guidance will help you engage with your healthcare provider to understand your risk, identify the necessary tools for your diabetes toolkit, and determine when to use them so that you can keep yourself or your loved one safe.

Why are the ADA guidelines important?

The ADA Standards of Care are guidelines for healthcare professionals made by diabetes experts. They give recommendations on how to manage diabetes, and every year, these guidelines are updated with new research and insights to help people with diabetes, their loved ones, and doctors manage diabetes in the best way possible. 

2024 ADA Guidelines: What’s New?

The ADA makes it clear that individuals taking insulin or insulin secretagogues (i.e., sulfonylureas, meglitinides) are at risk for experiencing low blood sugar. While these medicines are important for managing blood sugar levels, they can sometimes make your blood sugar levels go too low. So, the ADA says¹:

1. You or your loved one should have a prescription for ready-to-use glucagon if taking:
   • Insulin
   • Sulfonylureas or meglitinides and have major risk factors such as recent blood sugar < 54 mg/dL, or low blood sugar unawareness. Discuss low blood sugar risk factors with your healthcare provider.

2. Those in close contact with you or your loved one should learn where the ready-to-use glucagon is kept, how to use it, and when it is needed.
3. You or your loved one should discuss low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) management during your first appointment, follow-up visits, and yearly check-ups with your doctor.

Why Ready-to-Use Glucagon Must Be in Your Diabetes Toolkit

Very low blood sugar can happen suddenly, and you need to act fast when it does. That’s where ready-to-use glucagon like Gvoke HypoPen® comes in. Gvoke HypoPen is the ready-to-use glucagon rescue pen anyone can administer^2,3 with confidence.

• Simple to administer. Anyone can administer in two simple steps,^2,4 including you in certain situations.
• Ready to Use. It’s premixed and ready to go at a moment’s notice.³
• Proven to work. Brings very low blood sugar back up quickly and safely.^3*

Think of it as your safety net for when it matters most.

When to Use Ready-to-Use Glucagon

Because glucagon can rapidly reverse very low blood sugar, it’s viewed as one of the primary treatments for it.⁵

You can use ready-to-use glucagon when:

• Correcting with food or drink isn’t working.
• You are unable to swallow safely.
• You feel like passing out.
• You pass out or have a seizure. 

Talk to Your Doctor

Given the ADA’s latest guideline updates, having ready-to-use glucagon is no longer just a suggestion, but an essential tool for patients on insulin or at high risk for low blood sugar. You deserve to feel equipped, supported, and empowered in your diabetes management by having a safety net for when you need it most.

Talk to your doctor today about risk factors for very low blood sugar and including Gvoke HypoPen® in your diabetes toolkit to align with the latest guidance!

*In two clinical studies in adults, blood sugar levels that were less than 50 mg/dL increased to above 70 mg/dL or increased by at least 20 mg/dL within 13.8 minutes on average.