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... But in order to properly use glucagon in the first place, a person must have it on hand and recognize when their blood sugar is dropping. But hypoglycemia often leads to dizziness and confusion, which can make it harder to administer an injectable drug. Using glucagon at the right time also isn't feasible for some children, people with certain disabilities, or diabetics who are asleep when their blood sugar becomes dangerously low.

A new implantable device developed by engineers at MIT can release glucagon without any external effort. The implant, which is roughly the size of a quarter and weighs less than 2 grams, could help "relieve the fear of hypoglycemia that many patients, and their parents, suffer from," chemical engineer Daniel Anderson said in a statement.

Anderson and his colleagues explain how the implant works in a paper published Wednesday in Nature Biomedical Engineering. Made from 3D printed polymer, the device contains a tiny drug reservoir, which is sealed with a nickel-titanium alloy that changes shape when heated. Because liquid glucagon has a short "shelf life" in the body, the implant contains a powdered form instead. It can hold one or four doses of the drug. ...