Wishing all children and teenagers with congenital hyperinsulinism and their families a wonderful start to the school year! As many of our children begin the new school year, it is wonderful to learn that there is a new tool out there that may give HI parents a little peace of mind. Lilly, the makers of Glucagon, an emergency medication that boosts blood sugar in cases of severe hypoglycemia, has come out with a free mobile application, the Lilly Glucagon Mobile App, with a great simulation tool for learning how to administer glucagon.
I just downloaded it to my iphone and gave it a try. Impressive! The App includes a tutorial that teaches you how to prepare and give the injection, and the necessary follow-up for an episode of severe hypoglycemia. The practice simulation takes you through all the steps involved in giving a glucagon injection. There is also practical information including safety tips and storage information.
As a parent of a child with HI, I know how hard it can be to let go when a child starts school. Knowing that school personnel can train themselves with the Glucagon App may help ease some parental minds. I will be sharing this App with my son’s school nurse so that she can familiarize herself with all the steps involved in giving a glucagon injection. While I know she has familiarity with glucagon, I don’t think she has had to give a glucagon injection in quite a long time. The App includes a great refresher course. The App can be shared with anyone at school responsible for giving an emergency glucagon injection. It is also great for parents to have on their phones or tablets. As with all medical information, please discuss the App with your physician before recommending it to caregivers. Here is the link to Lilly’s press release on the App: http://newsroom.lilly.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=704061.
