Glucagon - Emergency Hypoglycemia Treatment

Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels by converting stored glycogen into glucose, often used as an emergency treatment for severe hypoglycemia in individuals with diabetes.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available by prescription at pharmacies
Applicable for
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Jane Cox

Glucagon FAQ


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What is Glucagon used for?

Glucagon is a peptide hormone, produced by alpha cells of the pancreas. It raises the concentration of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream and is considered to be the main catabolic hormone of the body. It is also used as a medication to treat a number of health conditions.

What is the difference between glucagon and insulin?

The difference is in how these hormones contribute to blood sugar regulation. Glucagon increases blood sugar levels, whereas insulin decreases blood sugar levels. If your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or your body doesn’t use it properly, you can have high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which leads to diabetes.

How does glucagon work?

Glucagon also acts on adipose tissue to stimulate the breakdown of fat stores into the bloodstream. Another rare effect of Glucagon, is its use as a therapy for beta blocker medication overdose. How is glucagon controlled? Glucagon works along with the hormone insulin to control blood sugar levels and keep them within set levels.

What are the effects of glucagon?

The effects of glucagon are the opposite of the effects induced by insulin. The two hormones need to work in partnership with each other to keep blood glucose levels balanced. What is glucagon? Glucagon is a hormone that is produced by alpha cells in a part of the pancreas known as the islets of Langerhans.

What is glucagon & how does it work?

Glucagon is a natural hormone your body makes that works with other hormones and bodily functions to control glucose (sugar) levels in your blood. Glucagon prevents your blood sugar from dropping too low.

Why is glucagon produced?

Glucagon is produced to maintain glucose levels in the bloodstream when fasting and to raise very low glucose levels. What is glucagon? Glucagon is a hormone that is involved in controlling blood sugar ( glucose) levels.

What are glucagon and insulin?

Glucagon and insulin are both important hormones that play essential roles in regulating your blood glucose (sugar). Both hormones come from your pancreas — alpha cells in your pancreas make and release glucagon, and beta cells in your pancreas make and release insulin.

What is GlucaGen ®?

GlucaGen® is a version of glucagon. This is a natural hormone used to treat severe hypoglycaemia. It has the opposite efect of insulin and helps the liver to change something called glycogen into glucose. When your blood glucose levels are too low. A hormone produced by an organ in the body called the pancreas.

Glucagon References

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