How does Glucagon work?
Glucagon is a counter-regulatory hormone that helps your body regulate blood glucose levels. In people without diabetes, whenever the blood glucose level drops, the beta cells of the pancreas secrete less insulin, while the alpha cells of the pancreas secrete more glucagon. Glucagon stimulates the liver to release its stored glucose (glucose is stored in the liver in a form called glycogen) into the bloodstream to help raise the blood glucose levels. As you know, people with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. In addition, after several years of having type 1 diabetes, many people lose their ability to secrete glucagon in response to low blood glucose, which can make them especially prone to severe hypoglycemia. When is Glucagon used? Someone would administer glucagon by injection to you if you were unable to take food/fluids by yourself. Glucagon should be injected if: • You are unconscious, or • You are unable to eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product, or • You are having a seizu
