Glucagon

Glucagon is used for emergency treatment of people with diabetes who have become unconscious because of very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia). It is used when such people are not able to take sugar by mouth. It may also be used in examinations of the gastrointestinal tract in adults.

Glucagon may be given by a healthcare professional or by the patient's caregiver if they have been trained to use it. You and your family members should learn to recognize the symptoms of severe hypoglycemia (such as irritability, sweating, fast heart rate, feeling anxious or shaky etc) and how to administer this medicine. Do not use Glucagon if it is discolored or if it contains particles.

Glucagon raises the blood sugar levels. Once the person gains consciousness and is able to eat, he or she must be given a high sugar snack like sweets, biscuits, or fruit juice. This will help prevent your blood sugar levels from falling again.

It is important to get emergency medical assistance after using this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels and keep you under observation for some time. A complete medical evaluation is advised for all such people to find out the cause of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) and to prevent it from happening again.

The most common side effect of this medicine is nausea. Please consult your doctor if it does not resolve or persists for a longer duration. Glucagon may not work properly if you have been fasting for a long time or if your low blood sugar levels have been caused by drinking too much alcohol.

• Severe hypoglycemia

Severe hypoglycemia
Severe hypoglycemia or excessively low blood glucose level is an emergency condition that needs immediate medical attention. It can occur in those people who are on insulin therapy or certain anti-diabetic medicines and may become unconscious suddenly. Glucagon raises the blood glucose levels and helps to restore the condition of the patient to normal. It is given by a doctor or nurse and should never be self-administered.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Glucagen

• Nausea

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Glucagon is a natural hormone. It helps the liver to change glycogen into glucose. It works in barium study by relaxing the tone and motility of the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract.

• The injection is given either under the skin or into a muscle.
• Ensure that both you and your family members know how to use Glucagon in case your blood sugar becomes severely low.
• It may take approximately 10 minutes to have an effect. Call your doctor immediately if the symptoms do not improve within 10 minutes of dose intake.
• Take high sugar snacks such as sweets and fruit juice as soon as you are able to swallow.
• Avoid driving and any activity requiring mental focus until blood sugar level gets normal.
• Inform your doctor every time you use this medicine as your dose may need to be adjusted.

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Glucagon. Gatwick, West Sussex: Novo Nordisk Limited; 1991 [revised Feb. 2015]. [Accessed 25 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:

Glucagon. Indianapolis, Indiana: Eli Lilly and Company; 2003. [Accessed 12 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: