glucagon

Two New Glucagon Formulations Await FDA Approval in 2019

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If not treated quickly, mild or moderate low blood sugar can become severe. Glucagon is a treatment for very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) which may affect people with diabetes. Two new versions are hoping to hit the market soon (these would be the first new types of glucagon in more than six decades).

  • After years of research, Eli Lilly has created a glucagon version that you "puff up your nose" to quickly boost blood sugar. Last summer, Lilly filed its nasal, dry powder glucagon for regulatory review in both the U.S. and Europe.

  • Xeris Pharmaceuticals has created a glucagon emergency pen that requires no mixing or prep, with an FDA meeting set for June of this year. The Xeris glucagon rescue pen would be the first ready-to-use, room-temperature stable liquid glucagon in an auto-injector to treat severe hypoglycemia.

Hopefully both will launch by the end of this year!

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Replay: Meet the Glucagon App - A Place to Learn & Prepare

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A view of the Lilly Glucagon app in the App Store.

A view of the Lilly Glucagon app in the App Store.

Lilly Glucagon is designed to treat patients with diabetes and severe hypoglycemia. Do you have a Glucagon kit at home, and do you and your loved ones know how to use it?

You can get a white teaching kit from Lilly by calling (800)LILLY-RX. And to learn more, you could try the mightily helpful Glucagon phone app, simply called “Glucagon.” You can use this app to go through a practice simulation of using Glucagon in an emergency, including how to mix (swirl) the powder and liquid and where to inject (thigh, arm, or buttocks).

Most importantly, there is a special section with instructions for an actual emergency, with animated pictures and audio directions.

The Glucagon app also has a section about “My Kit Information” to help you track where you are keeping your kit(s) in the house and when they expire. There is a function to set reminders to make sure you update your Glucagon kit before passing the expiration date.

In the app's content, you can learn more about this critical emergency treatment tool, including:

  • When it's appropriate to use Glucagon
  • Contraindications and precautions
  • Details about severe low blood sugar
  • Glucagon tips
  • Other helpful diabetes links

Glucagon, Scripts, and Your Insurance

Glucagon is covered by most insurance companies, but it's different for each. It also requires a doctor's prescription. If you are interested in obtaining a Glucagon kit, call Healthy Living Pharmacy at (866)779-8512 (Option 4). Our pharmacy team can help you get set up, including calling the doctor to request a prescription on your behalf.  You can also send us your written prescription, or we can transfer your script from another pharmacy if that would be helpful to you.

The Greatest Hits: Our Top 10 Posts in 2016

Detroit Tiger, Davy Jones, on Opening Day, 1911.

Detroit Tiger, Davy Jones, on Opening Day, 1911.

This has been an exciting year in the diabetes community! Thank you for journeying with us to explore the advancements, movements, and changes happening every week, and to hear about the latest Healthy Living news. We appreciate all of you!

#1

Text Me! The Benefits of Refill Reminders for Ease & Adherence

With our text reminder option, patients reorder their diabetes supplies more easily, readily, and frequently.

#2

Insulin Pump Technology Innovation from Medtronic and Tandem

Starting this year, both Tandem and Medtronic are offering pumps with new features that increase quality of life and ease of diabetes management.

#3

Healthy Living’s Online Retail Store Makes Life Simpler

Healthy Living’s online retail store offers products like over-the-counter medications, diabetes testing supplies, and insulin pump accessories. Customers can order with no shipping costs when delivered with an insurance-covered Healthy Living order. 

#4

5 Ways to Improve Customer Service & Their Meaning for Healthy Living

Our team reviewed the blog article What’s the Best Way to Improve Customer Service? 63 Influencers Weigh In.  Check out the top five favorites from Healthy Living employees.

#5

Healthy Living Celebrates Epic Teammate Performances This Fall

We celebrated outstanding Healthy Living employees this fall with the Player of the Week. Learn more about the four stars of 2016.

Autumn | John | Sherece | Tammi

#6

Healthy Living Creates New Employee-Inspired Core Values

All team members submitted a list of personal values, and from this compilation, the new Healthy Living Core Values were drafted. 

#7

Living with Allergies: Finding the Smoothest Back-to-School Path

One Michigan mom navigated the new-school-year requirements for dealing with her son’s food allergies…with help from Healthy Living Pharmacy: “It can be so overwhelming to deal with allergies, and Healthy Living Pharmacy made it simple.”

#8

Diabetes Is Expensive: How Healthy Living Helps

Healthy Living’s goal is to ensure that our patients NEVER run out of supplies so that they can stay adherent to their prescribed therapy, while also making sure there isn't unnecessary and costly surplus.

#9

Meet the Glucagon App - A Place to Learn & Prepare

Check out the “Glucagon” phone app – you can go through a practice simulation of using Glucagon and most importantly, there is a special section with interactive instructions to use during an actual emergency.

#10

Trick-or-Treating in Teal!

Did you see teal-colored pumpkins out on doorsteps this Halloween? The Teal Pumpkin Project is a very cool way for all children to be able to enjoy Halloween treats, stemming from an awareness program led by a food allergy mom.

Keep following us in 2017…we have more in store to keep you engaged and informed! Subscribe for the Healthy Living Blog at https://www.myhlms.com/blog/.