Why I’ll Never Hesitate With Glucagon Again

I’ve shared before how important glucagon is in our lives with Type 1 Diabetes.
But after two of the scariest episodes I’ve ever faced with Nicolas, I need to say more.

For months, he’d been eating the same breakfast.
Same carbs. Same insulin. Same timing.
His blood sugar was always fine afterward.

But not this time.

His CGM read 3.9 — not alarming. He had just finished eating.
But then suddenly, he cried out to me.
His skin turned ghost-white. His eyes blurred.
He mumbled, barely able to speak. He was slipping.

I gave him a juice box, but he could barely drink it.
He was limp. He was scared. So was I.

I finger-pricked. He was 1.8.

Tears streamed down both our faces.

His blood sugar eventually rose — but it kept dropping for hours.
The next morning, it happened again.
This time, I found him asleep. I shook him awake and gave another juice.
Again — he kept crashing.

Should I have used glucagon?

Yes.
Absolutely.

But I didn’t. Why?

Because I hesitated.
Because I feared judgment.
Because I thought “maybe I can manage it myself.”

Because I was afraid of the nausea. The stubborn highs afterward.
Because I thought maybe it meant I’d somehow failed him.

But here’s the truth:

Nicolas is extremely well-managed.
And I still felt that way.

And that’s why I’m speaking up:

💬 No parent should feel ashamed for using glucagon.

It’s not failure.
It’s not weakness.
It’s a life-saving tool. And that’s what matters.

📣 If you are a parent or caregiver:

  • Always carry glucagon — every trip, every outing, every day.

  • Train everyone you can — family, friends, school staff, sitters.

  • Encourage T1D adults to ask their doctor for a prescription — even if they’ve never needed it.

Because the truth is, even with the best management, T1D is unpredictable.
One minute everything is stable — the next, it’s a crisis.

And if you ever find yourself hesitating like I did…

Don’t.

That boy in the picture?
He’s my reason. My everything.

And I’ll never hesitate again.

Know someone who needs to hear this?

👉 Share this with a parent, teacher, or friend who supports a child with T1D.
👉 Explore our community or shop for more awareness tools

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He Is Not a Burden. But Type 1 Diabetes Is.

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Divorced, Still Showing Up — And Needing a Break from T1D