Nasal versus Injectable Glucagon for Children with T1D

Content repurposed with permission from: type1better.com

Despite best efforts to keep a child’s blood glucose within target, severe hypoglycemic episodes can happen, and it’s best to be prepared for the unpredictable. The risk of severe hypoglycemia is higher in children with T1D than in adults with T1D. This could be due to children being less aware of their symptoms and less likely to voice them out. During a hypoglycemic episode, if your child is not able to safely ingest any glucose tablets or fruit juice, someone will have to administer glucagon, a hormone that raises blood glucose levels. Prior to 2019, glucagon could only be administered by injection, but is now also available as a nasal spray for use in people aged 4 years and older. When prepared and administered as recommended, both products perform similarly. However, several studies have highlighted that glucagon isn’t always prepared or administered optimally in an emergency situation, so the treatment may not be as effective.

A recent study in Quebec, looked at the efficacy of nasal versus injectable glucagon by parents, guardians, and school personnel not familiar with administering glucagon. In this study, participants were asked to watch two short instructional videos on both types of glucagon. Three months later, they participated in a simulation in which they had to administer both types of glucagon in a stressful situation.

The study showed that nasal glucagon was not only faster and easier to administer, but its administration also had a better success rate than injectable glucagon.

Many mistakes were made when administering injectable glucagon, such as forgetting to remove the air from the syringe, injecting the diluent without mixing it with the glucagon powder first, or giving a full dose instead of the half-dose required for a child. Some participants even tried to administer insulin. Mistakes were less frequent with nasal glucagon (e.g., not pushing the plunger all the way in). Nasal glucagon appears to show many advantages over injectable glucagon, especially in school settings for children with T1D. However, it’s important to remember here that nasal glucagon is only approved for children aged 4 years and older, so injectable glucagon is the only treatment available for younger children.

The videos used for the study can be viewed, downloaded and shared using the following links:

Severe hypoglycemia

Severe hypoglycemia refers to a situation where blood glucose levels drop very low (often below 2.8 mmol/L) and where the person is unable to seek help or treatment on their own. In teenagers and adults, it refers to a situation where the person would not have been able to treat a low on their own. Symptoms can vary, but generally include shakiness, heavy sweating, confusion, irritability and, in some cases, loss of consciousness that may lead to seizures.

Severe hypoglycemia episodes are often described as a frightening, panic-inducing, alarming and dangerous episode that leaves people, especially loved ones, feeling helpless and unprepared. Each year, about 10% of people with T1D experience a severe hypoglycemic episode. Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms of hypoglycemia and to have a plan of action to be able to intervene quickly should blood glucose levels drop significantly.

Glucagon should be administered only in the event of severe hypoglycemia and if the person is unable to ingest any carbs by the mouth (e.g., inability to swallow, loss of consciousness). This emergency treatment releases glucose (sugar) stored in the liver into the bloodstream. Blood glucose levels should be back above 4.0 mmol/L within 5 to 20 minutes.

References :

  • Yue-Pei Wang et al., Comparison of Intranasal and Injectable Glucagon Administration among Pediatric Population Responders. Manuscript accepted in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics.
  • Madar, Houssein et al. Influence of severe hypoglycemia definition wording on reported prevalence in adults and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis from the BETTER patient-engagement registry analysis. Acta diabetologica vol. 60,1 (2023): 93-100. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00592-022-01987-9
  • Brazeau, Anne-Sophie et al. Self-reported severe and nonsevere hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes: population surveillance through the BETTER patient engagement registry: development and baseline characteristics. Canadian journal of diabetes vol. 46,8 (2022): 813-821. https://www.canadianjournalofdiabetes.com/article/S1499-2671(22)00134-4/fulltext

Changes to Glucagon Availability in Canada

Important Announcement Glucagon availability in Canada
What is Glucagon? 

Glucagon is a hormone that helps the liver release glucose to raise blood glucose levels. It can be administered through injection, auto-injection pen or nasal spray.

Glucagon is generally used when a person with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is unable to swallow liquid or food because of severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) symptoms, including extreme drowsiness, unconsciousness or seizure. It is important to have glucagon on hand in case of an emergency and ensure others (especially caregivers of children with T1D) know where it is kept and how to use it.

Changes to Glucagon Availability in Canada 

On July 10, 2023, Novo Nordisk announced that it was discontinuing their glucagon products in Canada, both the GlucaGen vial/vial pack and the GlucaGen Hypo Kits. This comes on the heels of a Health Canada’s announcement in April 2023 that glucagon (Glucagon for injection, rDNA origin) is in a Tier 3 shortage.  In August 2022, Eli Lilly and Company announced the discontinuation of their Glucagon Emergency Kit from all markets, with the last expected date of distribution recently passing in June 2023. Eli Lilly subsequently pulled out of the glucagon field entirely in April 2023, when they divested their intranasal glucagon product Baqsimi to Amphastar Pharmaceuticals. This transaction is set to close in fall 2023.

In response to the Tier 3 shortage, Health Canada has been working with Amphastar to provide “designated drug” status for their generic glucagon injectable product. This status allows drugs approved in other countries (in this case, Amphastar’s glucagon is FDA-approved) to be eligible for “exceptional importation and sale” in Canada during drug shortages.

Novo Nordisk consulted closely with Health Canada during the decision-making process to discontinue sale of glucagon in Canada and are confident that Canadians will not be left without access to glucagon. Based on historical demand, the current supply of Novo Nordisk’s glucagon products in Canada (distributed by Paladin Labs) is expected to last until February 2024. For further information about ordering product, please contact Paladin Labs Inc. Customer Service at 1-866-340-1112. If you have any Medical Information questions, please contact Novo Nordisk Customer Care team at 1-800-465-4334.

Options for Glucagon in Canada 

As of July 2023, the options for glucagon in Canada are as follows: 

It’s important to always have fast-acting sugar sources available with easy access when living with T1D, like glucose or dextrose tablets, full sugar (not diet) sodas, fruit juices or even table sugar.

JDRF Canada will provide any updates on further availability of glucagon products if and when they become available.