Glucagon: What Is It And What Is It For?

Glucagon is a hormone that is synthesized naturally in the body, specifically in an organ called the pancreas . The main function of this hormone is to increase blood glucose levels, unlike insulin.

Due to this property, as we will see later, glucagon is widely used in patients suffering from hypoglycemia, that is, a drop in glucose levels. Specifically, it is used in those cases in which the patient has lost consciousness and is not even able to swallow food.

All people with diabetes are advised to always carry a container of glucagon with them, especially those who are insulin dependent. In addition, it is important that they teach someone close to them to administer it so that, if necessary, they can do it.

Glucagon functions in the body

Due to its mechanism of action, glucagon triggers a series of effects in different organs and processes of the body. Among its effects, we can mention the following:

• Metabolic: it intervenes in metabolic reactions by inducing the catabolism of glycogen in the liver. In other words, it increases the breakdown of the glycogen molecule for the formation of glucose.
• Cardiac: produces the well-known beta effect, that is, positive inotropic and chronotropic effects similar to those of beta-adrenergic drugs. An inotropic substance is one that increases the contractile capacity of the muscle. As for the chronotropic effect, this refers to the ability of some substances to affect the heart rate.
• Smooth muscle : glucagon induces acute intestinal relaxation.
• Increases the concentration of catecholamines.
• As we already know, it increases the release of insulin. This allows the cells to incorporate the glucose transporter (GLUT4) and to use the glucose formed during the process of hepatic gluconeogenesis, that is, the process of glucose synthesis.

Glucagon regulation

The main regulatory factor for glucagon levels in the blood is glucose levels. When glucose is low in the blood, a direct signal is sent to the alpha cells, which are the cells of the pancreas that synthesize this hormone. This action is blocked by the action of insulin. Therefore, glucose and insulin have opposite effects.

Amino acids also raise glucagon levels. However, this effect is less than that triggered by glucose. The fact that amino acids increase glucagon levels is important, since in this way hypoglycemia triggered by excess protein intake can be avoided.

Other substances that stimulate glucagon secretion are the following:

• Catecholamines.
• Growth hormone.
• Glucocorticoids : they do it both directly and indirectly, since their action affects the increase of amino acids in the plasma.

On the other hand, free fatty acids exert the opposite action. In this sense, they have a certain inhibitory effect on glucagon secretion.

Learning more about hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, as we already know, is a disorder characterized by low levels of glucose or sugar in the blood. For many people with diabetes, that refers to having a level of 70 milligrams per deciliter or less. However, this value may vary, so you should consult it with your doctor.

As for the symptoms of hypoglycemia, they tend to appear quite quickly and can vary from person to person. On the other hand, there are people who suffer the same symptom, but of different intensity and, even, there are other people who do not suffer from any.

Among the symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia, we can mention the following:

• Pallor.
• Drowsiness.
• Tremors or nerves
• Excessive sweating.
• Increased appetite
• Changing behavior or personality.
• Uncoordination.

On the other hand, when the hypoglycemic picture is severe, the characteristic symptoms are the following :

• Seizures
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of consciousness

Glucagon is a hormone that is synthesized in the pancreas and whose main function is to increase glucose levels in the blood. If you are diabetic, you should discuss with your doctor the possibility of always carrying a dose of this hormone with you in case of an emergency situation and you need someone to administer it to you.