GlucaGen Hypokit in Spain: What It Is For and What to Do in a Severe Low
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 5 November 2026
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GlucaGen Hypokit is an emergency kit with glucagon. It treats severe hypoglycaemia (a very low blood sugar) in children and adults with diabetes who use insulin, when the person has passed out or cannot swallow. It needs a prescription. For severe hypoglycaemia, call 112. This guide is by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, an English-speaking GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280) who sees patients by video in English and Spanish.
Emergency: if a person with diabetes faints, has a fit, does not respond or cannot swallow, call 112 now. If you were trained to use the kit, follow the kit's instructions you were trained on.
- GlucaGen Hypokit contains glucagon, the hormone that makes the liver release sugar into the blood.
- It is for severe hypoglycaemia in children and adults with diabetes treated with insulin.
- Someone else gives it: family, friends or workmates who have learned how.
- Always call 112 for severe hypoglycaemia. Glucagon does not work in every case.
- It needs a prescription. Keep it in the fridge, or below 25 °C for a limited time.
What is GlucaGen used for?
GlucaGen is used to treat severe low blood sugar in children and adults with diabetes who take insulin. It is used when the person cannot take sugar by mouth because they have passed out or are very confused. The product information also lists a test use: in hospital, staff use it in adults to slow the gut during some scans.
What is in the GlucaGen Hypokit?
The kit holds a small bottle of glucagon powder and a pre-filled syringe of liquid to mix it with. Glucagon is a hormone that makes the liver release the sugar it has stored. It is mixed just before use, because it does not keep once mixed. Your doctor or diabetes nurse shows you and the people around you how to use it.
What should you do in severe hypoglycaemia?
- Call 112.
- If you were trained to use GlucaGen, follow the kit's instructions you were trained on.
- Turn the person on their side so they do not choke.
- Do not give food or drink until they are awake and can swallow.
- Once they are awake and can swallow, the leaflet says to give them something sugary, such as juice or biscuits, so the sugar does not drop again.
- Afterwards, talk to their doctor to find out why it happened and how to prevent it.
Who should know how to use GlucaGen?
A person with severe hypoglycaemia cannot give it to themselves. So the leaflet advises that family, friends and workmates know where the kit is and learn how to use it before it is needed. Ask your diabetes team to show them.
When might glucagon not work?
Glucagon only works if the liver has sugar stored. It may not work well:
- after a long time without food;
- with adrenal gland failure or repeated low sugars;
- when the low sugar is caused by alcohol;
- with a tumour that releases insulin or glucagon.
That is why you call 112 even if you have the kit: the person may need sugar through a drip.
Who should not use GlucaGen?
It is not used in people allergic to glucagon or anything else in the kit, or in people with a phaeochromocytoma (a rare adrenal tumour). Tell the doctor about beta-blockers, warfarin or indometacin, as these can change how it works.
How do you store GlucaGen Hypokit?
- In the fridge, at 2 °C to 8 °C. Do not freeze it.
- Or outside the fridge, below 25 °C, for up to 18 months, within the expiry date.
- In its box, away from light and out of reach of children.
- Do not use it if, once mixed, it looks like a gel or has bits in it.
Do you need a prescription for GlucaGen in Spain?
Yes. It is prescription-only. Check the expiry date now and then, and get a new kit if you have used it or it is about to expire. If you travel or lose it, read about lost medication in Spain.
What are the side effects?
Feeling sick is common, and being sick is less common. Tummy pain is rare and serious allergic reactions are very rare. If the person vomits, turn them on their side.
In English: what is the equivalent?
The medicine is glucagon everywhere. GlucaGen HypoKit is the same brand name used in the UK. In the US, GlucaGen and other glucagon products are sold, including ready-to-use pens and a nasal spray. Ask your doctor which forms are available to you in Spain. Spanish pharmacies need a prescription from a doctor licensed in Spain, so bring your old kit or its box to the visit.
When to call 112
- The person has passed out, does not respond, or has a fit.
- They cannot swallow, or are too confused to eat.
- They do not improve after the kit is used, or get worse again.
- You are not sure if it is low sugar or something else.
Frequently asked questions about GlucaGen
Do you need a prescription for GlucaGen in Spain?
Yes. It is prescription-only, and pharmacies ask for a prescription from a doctor licensed in Spain.
Can a family member give GlucaGen?
Yes. It is made to be given by someone else who has learned how. Call 112 as well.
Should I still call 112 if the person wakes up?
For severe hypoglycaemia, call 112. Even if they recover, they should talk to their doctor afterwards about why it happened.
Can GlucaGen be kept out of the fridge?
Yes, below 25 °C for up to 18 months, within the expiry date.
Is GlucaGen used for a mild low?
No. If the person is awake and can swallow, a mild low is treated with sugar by mouth, as their diabetes team advised.
Getting a medical assessment
If you have diabetes treated with insulin and want to review your low-sugar plan, you can book a video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, a physician registered in Spain. You can also read about diabetes care. A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
This guide is general information. It does not replace the package leaflet or the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following sources.
