What’s Glucagon?

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Glucagon is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps restore blood glucose levels in response to low blood sugar. Diabetics may require glucagon injections if their insulin drops sugar levels too low, while those who control their diabetes with diet and exercise may be able to trigger a release of the hormone by eating a small amount of sugar. Glucagon injections may also benefit individuals with hypoglycemia due to thyroid problems.

Glucagon is a natural hormone produced in the pancreas. The main function of this hormone is to react to a situation where there is low blood sugar. The release of glucagon into the bloodstream helps restore blood glucose levels to a point considered acceptable for overall body function.

People with some forms of diabetes can be susceptible to a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to a crisis situation. The drop could be a reaction to getting too much insulin into the bloodstream, or there could be other health problems, such as hypoglycemia. The body will try to compensate by releasing the hormone from the pancreas to begin the process of restoring blood glucose to an acceptable level.

Glucagon by itself does not raise blood sugar levels. Instead, the hormone is released by the pancreas and causes a reaction in the liver. The liver responds by releasing fats and carbohydrates which convert into glucose needed to stimulate metabolism and restore a decent blood sugar level.

Although the body produces glucagon, various types of health disorders can interfere with this process. Diabetics who have to use insulin to control blood sugar levels may experience episodes where the insulin drops the sugar below a safe level. When this happens, the body may not be able to release enough of the hormone to handle the crisis in a timely manner. The development of injections made it possible to rapidly introduce this hormone into the system and thus balance blood sugar before the individual experiences further stress or complications.

Not all people with diabetes are likely to require glucagon injections. When blood sugar can be controlled adequately with diet and exercise rather than the use of insulin in the process of treatment and management, there is a significantly reduced chance of needing assistance with natural sugar production. hormone. Instead, the diabetic who uses diet and exercise to control the situation may be able to trigger a release of this hormone from the pancreas simply by eating a small cookie or drinking a small amount of orange juice.

Individuals who are hypoglycemic due to thyroid problems may also benefit from the use of glucagon injections. This is usually reserved for more extreme cases. However, a doctor can assess the state of the condition and determine whether the injections would be in the patient’s best interest.




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