What is glucagon? How does it help control your blood sugar?

Do you sometimes feel dizzy and lightheaded? Maybe it happens when you're hungry? One of the main reasons for this is that your blood sugar levels drop below the required level. So today we're talking about a very important hormone that our body uses to keep this sugar level in balance. That's glucagon .

What exactly is Glucagon?

Simply put, glucagon is a hormone produced in our own body that helps raise blood sugar levels, or glucose levels, when they are low. This is very important for our body. Because our brain, muscles, in short, every organ needs energy to function. Glucose is the main fuel that provides that energy.

This glucagon hormone is produced in an organ called the pancreas, which is located just above our liver. You may remember that the hormone insulin, which is often mentioned when talking about diabetes, is also produced in this same pancreas.

Glucagon and insulin: two friends working together

Glucagon and insulin are like a team that do exactly the opposite of each other, but work together for the same goal: controlling blood sugar in the body.

• Insulin: After we eat, the amount of sugar (glucose) in our blood increases. So the hormone insulin takes that extra sugar and lets it be used by the body's cells as energy. Or, it stores it in the liver for later use. Simply put, insulin lowers blood sugar levels.
• Glucagon: When we go without eating for hours or when we exercise, our blood sugar levels drop. At that time, glucagon is activated and signals the liver to convert stored sugar (this stored sugar is called glycogen ) back into glucose and release it into the blood. Simply put, glucagon increases blood sugar levels.

Think of it like a scale. On one side, insulin lowers blood sugar, while on the other side, glucagon raises blood sugar, keeping the scale balanced.

How does this affect someone with diabetes?

This balance in the body of a person with diabetes is disrupted.

• After eating:When a normal person eats, the blood sugar level rises, so glucagon production simply stops. This is because the body is getting sugar from outside, so it doesn't need to use the stored sugar. But the body of a person with diabetes doesn't understand this signal properly. Therefore, glucagon continues to be produced even after eating. So, the sugar from the food and the blood are added together, and the sugar from the liver is also added. This causes the blood sugar level to rise too high.

What if blood sugar suddenly drops? - Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is when blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. This condition is more likely to occur in people who take medication for diabetes, especially insulin. However, it can also rarely occur in people without diabetes.

Let's take a look at the symptoms that you may experience when this condition occurs. If you experience one or more of these, you should be concerned.

Sometimes hypoglycemia can occur even during sleep.If this happens, you may experience nightmares, scream in your sleep, sweat, and feel extremely tired or dizzy when you wake up in the morning.

What to do for mild hypoglycemia?

If you experience mild symptoms like these, you can quickly restore your blood sugar levels by consuming something sugary (glucose tablets, a sweet drink, a sugar spoon, a piece of toffee).

How can glucagon be a lifesaver in an emergency?

If hypoglycemia becomes severe, a person can pass out or even go into a coma. This risk is higher in people with Type 1 Diabetes. But it is also at risk for people who take insulin for Type 2 Diabetes.

If someone loses consciousness due to low blood sugar, they cannot be given sugar to eat or drink. When this glucagon injection is given at that time, it directly signals the liver to release stored sugar into the blood. As a result, within a few minutes, the blood sugar level rises and the patient regains consciousness.

If you or someone in your family is at risk due to diabetes, you can talk to your doctor and get a prescription for an emergency glucagon kit like this.

• What to know about this kit: This kit usually contains the glucagon hormone in the form of a powder and a syringe with a liquid. The instructions clearly state how to quickly mix the two and administer the injection.
• Educate family and friends: If you are at risk, be sure to teach your family, co-workers, or close friends how to administer this vaccine in an emergency. If you become unconscious, someone else will have to administer the vaccine.
• Inform the school: If your child has diabetes, it is very important to inform the school nurse or a responsible teacher about this, and to have a glucagon kit at school.
• Check the expiration date: Check the expiration date on your glucagon kit at least every 6 months and have your doctor prescribe a new one if necessary.

After a glucagon injection, even if the patient regains consciousness, it is important to see a doctor or go to a hospital (ETU - Emergency Treatment Unit) as soon as possible.