Epipen

[retrocop]

Could anyone who has knowledge of Diabetes and use these pens tell me if they are used for Type 1 diabetes only and are they used intra muscular or intra venous. I have plenty experience of self injected Fragmin over the years but really do not fancy mainlining into my veins. Is type 2 usually diet and or medication? TIA :-)

[anneasquith]

Reply at 17.12 best advice .

[Baldric]

I've been Type 2 for 9-10 years, controlled with a couple of Pills a day, and a well controlled diet plus exercise certainly helps.

[TonyV]

You are quite right ethandron the weekly injections active substance is dulaglutide. I said insulin in error as a genetic term by mistake, but seems to be working fine.

[kvalidir]

Epi pens are usually used for anaphylaxis in severe allergies, not for diabetes except under the situations Sqad described, but they do look like insulin pens which type one and some type 2 diabetics use every day, but they contain either long lasting or short acting insulin.

[retrocop]

Thank you all for your time to respond . Very reassuring except for Balder's comment on "a well controlled diet and plenty of exercise"
I don't eat junk but I can't eat to order either.My cooking consists of fresh produce etc but a once a day diet. I don't do breakfast or Lunch.
Plenty of exercise. That is a catch 22 at the moment due to other recent issues. : -)

[237SJ]

Just seen this. Can someone explain the relationship between an Epipen and diabetes?

[Mamyalynne]

Incorrect word used that's all - Insulin Pen or Autopen.

[pastafreak]

Retro....by skipping breakfast and lunch you are doing intermittent fasting, which recent research has been shown to be good for both diabetics and weight as it helps to control blood sugar.
If you are interested, Google Dr Jason Fung...he writes extensively on intermittent fasting for treating diabetes.

[Sqad]

237....the use of Epipen ( epinephrine or adrenaline) in diabetes has been explained above.....it can be used in severe hypoglycaemic attacks as the epinephrine acts on the liver to convert various chemical into sugar which passes into the blood stream to raise the blood sugar levels.

[Mamyalynne]

I beg your pardon I thought Retrocop was meaning regular rather than urgent use.

Please ignore my useless reply.

[retrocop]

Thanks Pasta
Interesting. When I tell medics and others I cannot face breakfast or lunch and even nibbles in between I have the usual,"Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince, and Dinner like a Pauper etc and I am eating ass about face.
Nice to see a medic,Dr Fung,sort of agrees with my diet.

[237SJ]

So would an Epipen be more effective that something such as Glucogel? Sorry, I don't get it

[Sqad]

237......I am talking here of severe hypoglycaemia with possible unconsciousness. Glucogen would be my first choice , preferably, but epinephrine as the Americans call it or adrenaline was it is called in Europe, given by an Epipen would certainly be an accepted method of treatment, raising the blood sugar levels.

[237SJ]

I`m still not getting it. Why would the Epipen raise blood sugar levels?

[Sqad]

237....because Epipen contains epinephrine which acts on glycogen (sugar) stored in the liver to produce sugar which passes into the blood, raising the blood sugar which is low in hypoglycaemia.

[Peter Pedant]

chrriiiiiiiist
I have no idea how they got permission to do this
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/24/4/701

paper showed epipen was not much good in this area

[kvalidir]

Bloody hell Pete, that's very out there :/