Overcoming Severe Hypoglycemia with T1D – Gvoke Success Story
Explore Tristan’s story: an 18-year-old athlete with T1D (Type 1 Diabetes) who had a severe hypoglycemic event and used Gvoke HypoPen®(glucagon injection). Learn about his journey and the benefits of Gvoke®.
This interview was translated into this blog piece using artificial information technology and was derived from a transcribed conversation with the subject. The interview has been published with the subject’s consent.
Tristan is an 18-year-old from Iowa, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) when he was in first grade. He’s an athlete, a competitive rower, and races for the U.S. men’s junior national team. Tristan has experienced severe hypoglycemia, and he is here to talk about his journey with T1D and how he treats severe lows with Gvoke HypoPen® .
Q: Hi, Tristan. Thanks for joining us. Can you tell us a little about your experience with T1D and severe lows?
A: Sure. I’ve had T1D for as long as I can remember. It feels like I’ve always had to take insulin, watch carbs, and monitor my blood sugar. I’ve also been an athlete for most of my life. Currently, I’m a competitive rower for my college team, and I raced for the U.S. men’s junior national team in Italy in the summer of 2022. I’ve experienced a few severe lows, which are very scary and can happen at any time, even when I have my day tightly managed.
Q: Can you walk us through what happened during one of your severe lows?
A: Sure. I was about 13 or 14, and I had a busy day. I had gone to school, practice, and then ate dinner. I went to bed, and my mom saw through her phone connected to my CGM that my blood sugar was low and dropping. She tried giving me juice, but it wasn’t bringing my blood sugar up. I was seizing and was unconscious for a few hours, and my mom was very worried. She used a glucagon kit, but she was stressed and worried whether she mixed it correctly. The ambulance came and took me to the hospital.
Q: That must have been very scary for you and your family. How did you learn about Gvoke HypoPen®?
A: A few years after that incident, we learned about Gvoke HypoPen® through a friend. They said that we should look into it because it was glucagon that was two steps and came ready to use. To me, that sounded like a good idea, and my mom thought so too. My mom talked to my endocrinologist about Gvoke®, and she wrote me a prescription.
Q: How has Gvoke HypoPen® helped you treat severe lows?
A: Gvoke HypoPen® has been a game-changer for me. I have it in my house, in our car, and in my gym bag. It’s portable and small enough that I can just have it in my bag and not even really think about it.
In 2020, I had another severe low, and my mom saw that I was low and brought me juice, but I wasn’t able to drink or eat anything. She called 9-1-1, and then she remembered that I had Gvoke HypoPen® by my bed. She grabbed it, removed the cap, and inserted the needle directly into my abdomen. By the time the ambulance arrived, I had regained consciousness, and my blood sugar was going back up. Because of Gvoke®, we were able to handle the low on our own.
*Note, Gvoke HypoPen® should be stored in the original sealed foil pouch until time of use and stored at room temperature between 68°F to 77°(20°C to 25°C). Do not refrigerate or freeze. It is not known if Gvoke® is safe and effective in children under two years of age.*
Q: That’s amazing. Can you tell us why you think Gvoke HypoPen® is important for people with T1D?
A: I think Gvoke HypoPen® is essential for people with T1D because severe lows can be very scary, and they can happen at any time. In an emergency, you need a ready-to-use glucagon option that can be administered in two simple steps. Gvoke HypoPen® the ready-to-use rescue pen that can be administered by anyone.
Individual results may vary. To determine if Gvoke HypoPen® is right for you, speak with your doctor.
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:
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- 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.