what treatment is given out to patients with high levels of glucagon

Octreotide is the therapeutic agent of choice for hyperglucagonemia. The most commonly used treatment for islet cell tumor is combination chemotherapy with streptozocin and 5-fluorouracil, which is reported to cause tumor shrinkage in as many as 10% of patients.

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What are the side effects of glucagon?

• Chest tightness
• cough
• diarrhea
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• hives, itching, or skin rash
• lack or loss of strength
• paleness of the skin
• pounding in the ears

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How does glucagon work for choking?

If it becomes necessary to inject glucagon, a family member or friend should know the following:

• After the injection, turn the patient on his or her left side. ...
• The patient should become conscious in less than 15 minutes after glucagon is injected, but if not, a second dose may be given. ...
• When the patient is conscious and can swallow, give him or her some form of sugar. ...
• The patient or caregiver should continue to monitor the patient's blood sugar. ...

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How should a nurse administer glucagon?

You need glucagon if your blood sugar level is less than 50 mg/dl and you are:

• Unable to eat or drink safely because you’re confused or disoriented
• Unconscious
• Having seizures

What are the contraindications of glucagon?

glucagon (Rx)

• Interactions. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug. ...
• Adverse Effects
• Warnings. Patients taking beta-blockers may have a greater increase in both pulse and blood pressure, an increase of which will be temporary because of glucagon’s short half-life.
• Pregnancy & Lactation. A: Generally acceptable. ...
• Pharmacology
• Administration
• Images. ...
• Patient Handout. ...
• Formulary. ...

What happens if you have high glucagon?

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.

What is the best treatment to be given to a person experiencing hypoglycemia?

If you have hypoglycemia symptoms, do the following: Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods or drinks without protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body. Try glucose tablets or gel, fruit juice, regular (not diet) soda, honey, or sugary candy.

How do you control glucagon?

The release of glucagon is stimulated by low blood glucose, protein-rich meals and adrenaline (another important hormone for combating low glucose). The release of glucagon is prevented by raised blood glucose and carbohydrate in meals, detected by cells in the pancreas.

Which drug decrease the secretion of glucagon?

Numerous drugs currently available to diabetologists are capable of altering glucagon secretion: metformin, sulfonylurea compounds, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and amylin mimetics.

What is the fastest and best treatment for hypoglycemia?

You can treat the early symptoms of hypoglycemia by eating fast-acting carbohydrates. Eat or drink about 15 grams of fast-acting carbs, such as: glucose tablets or glucose gel. 1/2 cup of fruit juice or non-diet soda.

How do nurses treat hypoglycemia?

Severe hypoglycemia can be treated with intravenous (IV) dextrose followed by infusion of glucose. For conscious patients able to take oral (PO) medications, readily absorbable carbohydrate sources (such as fruit juice) should be given.

What causes high glucagon levels?

The most common cause of hyperglucagonemia is an absence or deficiency of the restraining influence of insulin on glucagon production. Although rare, hyperglucagonemia can be caused by an autonomous secretion of glucagon by a tumor of pancreatic alpha cells (glucagonoma syndrome).

Why is there high glucagon in diabetes?

It turns out that the α-cells in type 2 diabetes become resistant to insulin, much like liver, fat and muscle. The result is that glucagon release is no longer inhibited during the mealtime rise in blood glucose, and this leads to the elevated levels of the hormone in type 2 diabetes.

Why is glucagon high in DKA?

In type 1 diabetes (T1DM), increased glucagon secretion contributes to the elevated ketones and acidosis present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). It also contributes to the hyperglycemia seen with or without DKA. The glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is impaired soon after the development of T1DM.

Does glucagon increase insulin?

A well-known effect of glucagon is to stimulate insulin secretion from the islet beta cells, which raises insulin concentrations (4).

Can glucagon cause hypoglycemia?

It is conceivable that blockade of glucagon action or secretion might increase the risk of iatrogenic hypoglycemia in the setting of endogenous insulin deficiency, but the glucagon response to falling plasma glucose concentrations is typically lost in individuals with absolute endogenous insulin deficiency as discussed ...

How is glucagon secretion inhibited?

We show that insulin inhibits glucagon secretion by a paracrine effect mediated by stimulation of somatostatin secretion rather than a direct effect on the α cells.

What hormone inhibits glucagon release?

Glucagon release is inhibited by somatostatin, a pancreatic hormone having complementary functions. Biopsy reports of the pancreatic tumors show presence of somatostatin receptors on the cell surface. Presently, octreotide, an analogue of somatostatin is being used for hyperglucagonemia.

What is the effect of glucagon on the brain?

In diabetic conditions, energy requirements are met by utilizing protein and fat reserves. Glucagon increases breakdown of proteins and fats (lipolysis).

How does glucose breakdown work?

Glucose breakdown provides the major source of energy for cells. The blood glucose level is regulated by the relative activities of insulin and glucagon. Insulin helps in utilization of glucose and removes it from blood. On the contrary, glucagon breaks down stored proteins into glucose and increases its level in blood (gluconeogenesis). In a way insulin and glucagon function with a mutual feedback. Various factors lead to increased glucagon secretion. A reduced glucose concentration in blood serves as the most important trigger for glucagon secretion.

How does hyperglucagonemia affect older people?

Hyperglucagonemia can be life threatening due to it effects on blood clotting or the spread of malignant tumors of the glucagon-producing cells of the pancreas (glucagonoma).

What is the term for a high blood glucose level?

Hyperglucagonemia (High Blood Glucagon Levels) Almost all vital processes of the body require energy. Carbohydrates in food are broken into simpler units, mainly glucose. This glucose is utilized by cells to derive energy. Optimum concentration of glucose in the blood is required for healthy functioning.

What hormones are responsible for maintaining glucose levels?

Optimum concentration of glucose in the blood is required for healthy functioning. It is maintained by hormones secreted from the pancreas – insulin and glucagon. Changes in the ratio of these hormones, disturbances in its secretion and diminished effect can lead to disruption in regulating the blood glucose levels.

Where is glucagon released?

Glucagon is released first in the portal veins and carried to liver, before being released in peripheral circulation. It explains the spread of the pancreatic tumor towards liver. Disruption of liver functioning also increases peripheral glucagon levels (glucose intolerance), owing to its reduced degradation.

How does glucagon affect hepatic glucose production?

As plasma glucose levels decrease, glucagon levels increase, resulting in a 60% increase in hepatic glucose production and output through gluconeogenesis.47 Glucagon secretion is regulated, in part, by endogenous insulin secretion. Insulin action results in the storage of glycogen within hepatocytes. Insulin resistance, insulinopenia, ...

What is a glucagonoma?

Classically, glucagonoma refers to a pancreatic NET that causes hyperglucagonemia and a distinct syndrome of rash (necrolytic migratory erythema), hyperglycemia, weight loss, diarrhea, stomatitis, thromboembolism, gastrointestinal disturbances, and neuropsychiatric symptoms (glucagonoma syndrome).148,149 Recently, with the wide use of immunochemistry, more pancreatic NETs are found to be positively stained for glucagon, with or without hyperglucagonemia. These tumors are also called glucagonoma by pathologists and then clinicians. 150 Thus glucagonomas in classical terms and contemporary terms can denote quite different tumors. Classical glucagonomas are some of the rarest functioning pancreatic NETs, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 20 million individuals per year and a typical middle-age presentation. 148,149 Most classical glucagonomas are from 2 to 25 cm in the largest dimension and tend to localize in the tail of the pancreas. Most classical glucagonomas have already metastasized to the liver at the time of diagnosis. Due to the difficulty in recognizing glucagonoma syndrome, the diagnosis of classical glucagonoma is often delayed. Nonspecific elevation of glucagon levels are common such as in physiologic stress or carcinoid syndrome, but glucagon levels are usually <500 pg/mL (upper limit of normal <100 pg/mL). 149 Glucagonoma is associated with markedly elevated serum concentrations of glucagon (>500 pg/mL, mean ∼1400 pg/mL), and glucagon levels above 1000 pg/mL are virtually diagnostic of glucagonoma if the patient has glucagonoma syndrome. In asymptomatic patients with very high glucagon levels, familial hyperglucagonemia and Mahvash disease are worth considering. 16,17,151 As most classical glucagonomas are bulky, localization by CT or MRI, octreotide scan, and endoscopic ultrasound is usually straightforward. 148,149 Multidisciplinary management is needed for classical glucagonomas (see the section entitled “Management Strategy” earlier in the chapter). Somatostatin analogues are especially important because they reduce glucagon levels. 152 Glucagon receptor antagonists being developed for diabetes treatment 153 may have a role in controlling glucagonoma syndrome in the future. Glucagonomas identified only by immunostaining most commonly behave like nonfunctioning pancreatic NETs. 150 Glucagon levels can be used in detecting the recurrence and in following the progression of these tumors.

What is the cause of hyperglucagonemia?

Hyperglucagonemia is usually caused by excessive production of glucagon by a tumor of the α cells of the pancreatic islets (glucagonoma). However, hyperglucagonemia can also occur in diverse conditions such as acute pancreatitis, severe stress, acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, hepatocirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, chronic renal insufficiency, ...

What is the effect of a postprandial increase in glucose concentration on hepatic glucose production?

Under normal conditions, a postprandial increase in glucose concentration is associated with a corresponding reduction in glucagon. As plasma glucose levels decrease, glucagon levels increase, resulting in a 60% increase in hepatic glucose production ...

How rare are glucagonomas?

Classical glucagonomas are some of the rarest functioning pancreatic NETs, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 20 million individuals per year and a typical middle-age presentation. 148,149 Most classical glucagonomas are from 2 to 25 cm in the largest dimension and tend to localize in the tail of the pancreas.

What are the defects in the insulin signal transduction system?

49 These defects lead to decreased glucose transport, impaired release of nitric oxide with endothelial dysfunction, and multiple anomalies in intramyocellular glucose metabolism. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway retains its sensitivity to insulin, causing excessive stimulation of this inflammatory and atherogenesis-based system. This, in part, explains the strong association between high circulating plasma insulin levels, insulin resistance, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Does insulin suppress glucagon?

Insulin suppresses glucagon. A cute withdrawal of insulin from patients with type 1 diabetes rapidly results in hyperglucagonemia, which is readily reversed by reinfusion of physiological amounts of insulin (Fig. 4). Excessive glucagon responses to arginine and after ingestion of balanced meals found in patients with diabetes can be reduced by physiologic quantities of insulin. Permissive low levels of insulin appear to be important for optimization of the response of alpha cells to glucose. The hyperglucagonemia seen in diabetic ketoacidosis, despite the hyperglycemia characteristic of the state, is consistent with this theory. One must consider, however, the relative influence of arterial insulin versus intraislet insulin, which is still poorly understood. The suppressive effects of insulin on glucagon secretion are mediated at least in part by increased intracellular ATP resulting from increased glucose metabolism. As discussed earlier, increased energy directed (portioned) to compartments limiting glucagon release could be involved.

How to administer glucagon?

To administer a glucagon injection, first, open the Glucagon Emergency Kit for Low Blood Sugar and mix the glucagon powder vial and the prefilled syringe containing the diluent (sterile water). This must be done just before administration. The powder should dissolve to form a clear liquid.

How to help a person who is not responding to glucagon?

Encourage the person to eat as soon as they can and can swallow safely. Initially give them a fast-acting source of sugar, such as juice, then a snack such as cheese and crackers or peanut butter. If a person does not respond within 15 minutes give them another dose of glucagon if available.

How long does it take for glucagon to wear off?

Always followed up a dose with a fast-acting source of sugar (eg fruit juice, glucose gel) and a snack or small meal such as crackers with cheese or peanut butter because the effects of glucagon will start to wear off after at least 90 minutes. Seek emergency medical assistance immediately after administering glucagon.

How to store glucagon?

Always carry sugar, candy, or another kind of readily absorbable carbohydrate with you to eat if you start to feel early symptoms of low blood sugar levels, such as dizziness, tiredness, or sweating. Store your glucagon kit at room temperature 20C to 25C (68F to 77F).

What medications can cause a short term increase in blood pressure?

beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol, sotalol, or timolol (may cause a short-term increase in blood pressure and pulse) indomethacin (may interfere with glucagon's ability to raise blood sugar levels and may cause hypoglycemia) insulin (has the opposite effect to glucagon)

What is glucagon used for?

Bottom Line. Glucagon is a synthetic hormone that may be used to treat severely low blood sugar levels (severe hypoglycemia) in adults and children with diabetes, or as a diagnostic aid during a radiologic examination. Family members and caregivers should recognize the signs of severe hypoglycemia and act quickly.

How does glucagon work?

How it works. Glucagon is identical to the glucagon produced by our bodies, which is a hormone that helps to increase blood sugar levels. Glucagon is produced naturally in our bodies by alpha cells , found in the islet cells of the pancreas.

How to increase glucagon levels?

1) Fasting. When your blood sugar is low, it’s normal for glucagon to be high. Prolonged fasting can increase glucagon. In one study, glucagon blood levels rose twofold on the 3rd day of fasting and then slightly declined over the next 6 weeks. Insulin levels decreased [ 14 ].

What causes high glucagon levels?

Glucagonomas are tumors of the pancreas that secrete glucagon. They can cause very high glucagon blood levels [ 24, 10 ]. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is an inherited disorder that causes tumors to form in the endocrine glands. Patients with this disorder also have high glucagon levels [ 9 ].

What does it mean to order a glucagon test?

They may order a glucagon test if someone shows symptoms of: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) [ 4] Diabetes [ 4] Liver disease and damage (cirrhosis) [ 6, 7] Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis) [ 8]

What is the relationship between insulin and glucagon?

While insulin ensures blood sugar doesn’t spike too high, glucagon ensures it doesn’t drop too low.

What hormone is released when glucose levels are low?

What is Glucagon ? Glucagon is a hormone that helps maintain glucose balance in the body. When glucose levels are low, the pancreas releases glucagon , which signals the liver to release glucose. When glucose is high, the pancreases stops glucagon release [ 1, 2, 3 ].

What are the functions of glucagon?

Glucagon has some important functions in the body. For a long time, glucagon was considered insulin’s “bad” counterpart. But aside from increasing blood sugar, glucagon also acts to [ 5 ]: 1 Burn fats and reduce fat stores 2 Increase energy use 3 Balance food intake 4 Increase satiety 5 Reduce the production of bile acids

What happens to the pancreas as blood sugar increases?

As the level of blood sugar decreases, the pancreas releases more glucagon. And as blood sugar increases, the pancreas releases less glucagon.

How is glucagon administered?

Unlike dextrose, which must be administered intravenously by a qualified health care professional, glucagon can be administered by subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) injection by trained parents or caregivers. This can prevent the delay in commencing treatment that is otherwise experienced while waiting for the arrival of emergency personnel, reducing the need for hospitalization and providing reassurance for patients and their caregivers. 66 The hormone is secreted by the pancreas, and acts to maintain glucose production through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver. 67 The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of recombinant glucagon have been evaluated following SC and IM administration, with glucagon demonstrating a short half-life (~8–18 minutes), and maximum plasma concentrations achieved a few minutes after SC or IM injection. 68, 69

What is glucagon used for?

As the main counter-regulatory hormone to insulin, glucagon is the first-line treatment for severe hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients with diabetes. Unlike dextrose, which must be administered intravenously by a qualified health care professional, glucagon can be administered by subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) injection by trained parents or caregivers. This can prevent the delay in commencing treatment that is otherwise experienced while waiting for the arrival of emergency personnel, reducing the need for hospitalization and providing reassurance for patients and their caregivers.66The hormone is secreted by the pancreas, and acts to maintain glucose production through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver.67The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of recombinant glucagon have been evaluated following SC and IM administration, with glucagon demonstrating a short half-life (~8–18 minutes), and maximum plasma concentrations achieved a few minutes after SC or IM injection.68,69

What is glucagon emergency kit?

The Glucagon Emergency Kit (Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis, IN) and the GlucaGen ® Hypokit ® (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark) are the currently available glucagon kits administered by IM or SC injection. The glucagon kits comprise a brightly colored case, containing a vial of glucagon powder, a syringe prefilled with solvent, and text and graphic instructions for reconstitution and use, designed so that they are easy to locate and use in an emergency situation.

What is the risk of hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is associated with significant morbidity: physical (such as palpitations, sweating, and neurological impairments) as well as psychological (such as mood disturbance and generalized worry and fear of hypoglycemia);7–9reductions in quality of life; and risk of death,9with 2%–6% of all deaths in people with type 1 diabetes being attributed to hypoglycemia.10,11Similarly, in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving sulfonylurea monotherapy, severe hypoglycemia has been associated with an overall mortality rate of 9%.12In the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study, the use of intensive therapy for 3.7 years to target a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level below 6% reduced 5-year nonfatal myocardial infarctions but increased 5-year mortality, leading the author to conclude that this treatment strategy should not be recommended for high-risk patients with advanced type 2 diabetes.13The fear of future hypoglycemia events is often the underlying source of inappropriate management of diabetes and suboptimal glycemic control.14Self-management and regular monitoring of blood glucose levels are invaluable tools that aid the recognition of the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, therefore reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. While the implementation of continuous glucose monitoring systems holds promise in children and adults for maintaining glycemic thresholds without a concurrent risk of hypoglycemia,15,16studies have reported discrepancies between readings of continuous glucose monitors and blood glucose levels.17,18Moreover, analysis of continuous glucose data is challenging and no method has yet been devised to overcome the issues associated with measuring such data.18Therefore, there remains a need for precautionary measures to manage severe hypoglycemia events when they do occur.

What causes hypoglycemia in diabetics?

The most frequently attributed cause of hypoglycemia is treatment with insulin or sulfonylureas (iatrogenic hypoglycemia), but additional underlying causes of nondiabetic hypoglycemia include pancreatic or nonislet cell tumors, autoimmune conditions (for example, autoimmune insulin syndrome), organ failure, endocrine disease, inborn errors of metabolism, dietary toxins, and miscellaneous conditions (such as sepsis, starvation, severe excessive exercise). 26 Table 1 lists several causes of hypoglycemia for people with diabetes. 27 Among these possible causes, a recent study investigating the management of severe hypoglycemia in type 1 or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes in Germany, Spain and the UK, found that insufficient food consumption was the most common cause (43% or 47% of type 1 or 2 patients with diabetes in all countries, respectively; Figure 2) followed by physical exercise/over-exertion (24% or 23%), and insulin dose miscalculation (24% of type 1 diabetes patients) or stressful situations (17% of type 2 diabetes patients). 28 The frequencies of these major causes of hypoglycemia in the type 1 and 2 diabetes patient groups were similar between countries. However, a notably greater proportion of German patients with type 1 diabetes (and, to a lesser extent, patients with type 2 diabetes from Germany) reported stressful situations, oscillating blood glucose levels, and impaired hypoglycemia awareness as a cause of hypoglycemia than patients in Spain and the UK ( Figure 2 ).

How does hypoglycemia affect people?

Hypoglycemia symptoms are distressing and impair the daily functioning of people with diabetes. 47They can lead to sufferers feeling tired, tense and ill at ease48,49and affect their quality of life.50The Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN) study showed that 41% of people with diabetes (n = 5104) reported poor psychological well-being, with only 10% of patients reporting that they had received psychological treatment for their problems.51Moreover, more health care professionals (n = 3287; including primary care physicians, diabetes specialist physicians and nurses) felt able to identify and evaluate psychological needs (49%–69%) than had the resources to treat those needs (38%–61%).51Activities of daily living such as driving become too dangerous for the individual to perform and they may feel less able to partake in recreational and sporting activities, which may affect their quality of life. Elderly people with diabetes may also suffer fractures from falls due to hypoglycemia.52In addition, the fear of future severe hypoglycemia events also negatively influences self-management of diabetes and quality of glycemic control.14,53,54

What is mild to moderate hypoglycemia?

Mild (minor)-to-moderate hypoglycemia is defined as: a hypoglycemia event that can be self-treated irrespective of symptom severity, or an asymptomatic blood glucose measurement of ≤3.9 mmol/L.2,8,21Severe hypoglycemia is defined as: a hypoglycemia event that requires external (third-party) assistance.21Notably, younger children will almost always need to be treated by a parent or caregiver when experiencing hypoglycemia; they may also have difficulty explaining their symptoms verbally so it is necessary for parents or caregivers to monitor behavior closely in order to detect possible hypoglycemia. According to the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) guidelines of 2006–2007, severe hypoglycemia is when the child has “altered mental status and cannot assist in their care, is semiconscious or unconscious, or in coma with or without convulsions and may require parenteral therapy (glucagon or intravenous [IV] glucose)”.22

What to do if your glucagon levels are abnormal?

If your glucagon levels are abnormal, your doctor may perform other tests or evaluations to learn why. Once your doctor has diagnosed the cause, they can prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Ask your doctor for more information about your specific diagnosis, treatment plan, and long-term outlook.

How does glucagon help your body?

Once it’s in your bloodstream, glucagon stimulates the breakdown of glycogen, which your body stores in your liver. Glycogen breaks down into glucose, which goes into your bloodstream. This helps maintain normal blood glucose levels and cellular function.

Why do you need a glucagon test?

The glucagon test can help your doctor identify the presence of diseases that occur with excess glucagon production. Although diseases due to abnormal glucagon levels are rare, elevated levels are often associated with specific health issues. For instance, elevated glucagon levels may be the result of a pancreatic tumor, called a glucagonoma.

What hormone is released when blood glucose levels drop?

Overview. Your pancreas makes the hormone glucagon. While insulin works to reduce high levels of glucose in your bloodstream, glucagon helps prevent your blood glucose levels from becoming too low. When glucose levels in your bloodstream drop, your pancreas releases glucagon. Once it’s in your bloodstream, glucagon stimulates the breakdown ...

What is glucagon in blood?

Glucagon is a hormone that helps regulate your blood glucose levels. If you have wide fluctuations in your blood glucose levels, you may have problems with glucagon regulation. For example, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, may be a sign of abnormal glucagon levels. If you have the following symptoms, your doctor may order a glucagon test:

What is the normal glucagon level?

The normal glucagon level range is 50 to 100 picograms/milliliter. Normal value ranges can vary slightly from one lab to another, and different labs may use different measurements. Your doctor should consider the results of your glucagon test with other blood and diagnostic test results to make a formal diagnosis.

Can glucagon be overproduced?

These symptoms commonly occur with pancreatic disorders that cause an overproduction of glucagon. Given the unique specificity of these symptoms, doctors don’t routinely order glucagon tests as part of annual physical exams. In other words, your doctor will only order the test if they suspect you have problems with your glucagon regulation.

When do you need glucagon?

You need glucagon if your blood sugar level is less than 50 mg/dl and you are:

Why is glucagon used in emergency kits?

It causes your liver to release sugar. Because very low blood sugar is dangerous, it needs to be treated right away. Getting an injection of glucagon from your emergency kit will bring up your blood sugar quickly. You will feel better and be safer. Figure 1.

How to mix glucagon powder?

Mixing the glucagon powder with the diluting fluid. Draw up the glucagon into the syringe. To do this, hold the vial and syringe so that the vial remains on top and the tip of the syringe is towards the bottom of the vial (see Figure 5). Pull the plunger of the syringe back to draw the Glucagon into the syringe.

How to inject glucagon into the butt?

You will inject the glucagon into the person’s thigh or buttock. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab. If you don’t have an alcohol swab, skip this step. Insert the needle into the person’s skin in one quick motion at a 90 degree angle (straight up and down, see Figure 6).

What are the symptoms of low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar means that there is too little glucose in your bloodstream. If your blood sugar drops too low, you can have symptoms such as: 1 Sweating 2 Shakiness 3 Headaches 4 Feeling faint 5 A fast, forceful heartbeat 6 Weakness

Can glucagon help with seizures?

This is because having high blood sugar can also make you unconscious. In that case, glucagon won’t help. Instead, get medical attention right away by calling 911.

Can blood sugar go down without treatment?

Without treatment, your blood sugar can keep going down. This can lead to symptoms such as:

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