When it comes to severe bouts of hypoglycemia, the availability of Glucagon may be the only way to save a life. However, during a crisis situation, a rescuer must determine the correct dosage before injecting Glucagon. But a stranger or friend with medical training may not know how to determine the correct amount to administer. And if the person is suffering from hypoglycemia and has to way till they reach the emergency room, it may result in deadly consequences.
Thankfully, Locemia Solutions is advancing a nasal glucagon delivery system that doesn’t require any mixing or needle jabs, thereby making it easier for people with limited medical knowledge to still be effective during a crisis. Locemia CEO Claude Piché says that his company is hoping to make hypoglycemia rescue something that everyone can be comfortable doing,” “We’re talking about teachers, bus drivers, coaches.”
Growing clinical evidence suggests that nasal glucagon is safe and effective to use on people with diabetes. Most recently, a T1D Exchange-led study noted that nasal glucagon worked just as well as injectable glucagon in correcting low blood sugar levels in children, and actually was less likely to cause nausea than the needle version.
Another important positive with the nasal glucagon was that it didn’t seem to matter if two or three milligrams of glucagon were administered.
A study of 48 children noted that injectable and nasal glucagon performed equally well at bringing blood sugar levels up. However, only about 40% of children complained of nausea after getting the nasal dose, compared to the roughly 60% of children who received glucagon via a needle. That’s an important advancement because nausea can further complicate blood sugar levels following a low, creating a potentially vicious cycle of blood sugar level jumping up and down.
Another important positive with the nasal glucagon was that it didn’t seem to matter if two or three milligrams of glucagon were administered. While injectable glucagon dosage is normally dependent on the weight of the person, removing the need to assess dosage size eliminates variables for parents in a panic situation. With the injectable form, parents during a crisis moment might overdose….or underdose. That means more people who can easily administer glucagon, without fear
