Frequently asked questions about Zegluxen^®

It is important to check their electronic health record prior to prescribing Zegluxen^® as well as asking whether they have or had any problems with their pancreas, kidneys or liver.¹

Are there any other contraindicated medical problems, such as gastroparesis or problems with digesting food?

Are they pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant?¹

Check the patient’s current prescriptions, including over-the-counter medicines, medicines to treat diabetes, insulin, sulfonylureas, vitamins and herbal supplements.¹

A member of the healthcare team, GP, nurse practitioner, or diabetes nurse should try and demonstrate injection of Zegluxen^® using the pre-filled pen on the patient, the first time it is administered. The How to Administer section of this website provides step-by-step instructions.

• Refer your patient to the step-by-step instructions on the Patient Information Leaflet, as well as those on the Zegluxen^® patient site.²
• Remind patients they need to inject under the skin of their stomach, thigh or upper arm and never into a muscle or vein.²
• Insulin and Zegluxen^® should not be mixed together in the same injection. The same body area for both can be used (for example their abdomen) but they should not administer the injections right next to each other.²
• Emphasise the need to avoid needle sharing to prevent cross contamination or infection.²

Common side effects (1 in 10 people): gastrointestinal¹

Refer your patient to the Patient Information Leaflet, as well as the safety and tolerability section of the patient site. Mention that the most common side effects of using Zegluxen^® may include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion and constipation. Patients should ensure they are well hydrated when taking Zegluxen^® to avoid dehydration and combat the effects of vomiting or diarrhoea if they experience them. Reassure them that these side effects are common (around 1 in 10 people) and should disappear over time. If they continue to experience them after two weeks to a concerning level, they should contact their healthcare professional.^1,2

Hypoglycaemia (1 in 10 people):¹

Flag the warning signs of low blood sugar to your patient. If they experience sudden onset of cold sweat, cool pale skin, headache, fast heartbeat, feeling sick, feeling very hungry, changes in vision, feeling sleepy, feeling weak, nervous, anxious, confused, difficulty concentrating or shaking (tremor) they should contact their healthcare professional.¹ If the patient’s blood sugar level is below 4mmol/L they should eat or drink something that will raise their blood sugar quickly, such as a sugary fizzy drink or a glass of fruit juice, 5 glucose or dextrose tablets, a small handful of sweets or 2 tubes of glucose gel. They should then check their blood sugar after 10 to 15 minutes and repeat the sugary snack if their blood glucose remains below 4mmol/L. After a further 10 to 15 minutes, they should again check their blood sugar levels. Once their blood sugar is above 4mmol/L then are advised to eat something more substantial that will keep their blood sugar up for longer such as some biscuits or a sandwich or their next meal if it is due.³

Once the patent of a drug has expired, other manufacturers can market the same drug under a different name. Essentially, the generic version will be the same because the drug contains the same active ingredient as the branded medicine and is used at the same dose to treat the same disease. Generic medicines are used by the NHS because they are as effective as the original brand but are generally more affordable.⁴

Before they are approved on the market, generic medicines are evaluated to ensure they meet the same standards of quality, safety, and efficacy as the original brand version.^4,5