GPs are being advised to ration emergency glucagon kits and identify patients with type 1 diabetes with existing prescriptions in the wake of a critical shortage.

Last week, Novo Nordisk warned doctors that GlucaGen HypoKit was expected to be in short supply in August and September as a result of issues with an external vendor. 

“Healthcare professionals are recommended to use GlucaGen HypoKit only for treating severe hypoglycaemia (as a life-saving drug) and not for diagnostic purposes at this time,” the drug sponsor said. 

It also urged clinics, hospitals and patients to only discard kits if the expiry date had passed, but not for those with a nearing expiry, until a new kit had been obtained.