Emergency Glucagon: Everything You Need to Know

Glucagon is a hormone that tells your liver to release its stored sugar (also known as glycogen) into your bloodstream. Emergency glucagon treatments can raise your blood sugar during severe hypoglycemia.

Anyone who takes insulin (or another medication that can cause low blood sugars) should have an emergency glucagon treatment.

Here, you can learn everything you need to know about glucagon!

Glucagon Basics

Learn what glucagon is and how it can be used during severe low blood sugars.

Hypoglycemia and How to Treat It

Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is when your blood sugar level drops below 70. Having low blood sugar is dangerous and needs to be treated right away. Left untreated, hypoglycemia can lea...MORE

All About Glucagon

Besides being a hormone that occurs naturally in the body, glucagon is also an emergency medicine used when a person with diabetes is experiencing hypoglycemia and cannot take sugar orally or in non...MORE

How to Get Emergency Glucagon: CoPay Cards + Insurance Denials

What to do if your health insurance denies your request for newer emergency glucagon treatment productsMORE

How to Ask Your Primary Care Provider for Glucagon

Your doctor may not know about emergency glucagon, why you need it, and the newest types available. Here's how to ask for it...MORE

If You Take Insulin, You Need a Prescription for Emergency Glucagon

Emergency glucagon is a medication that raise blood sugar levels quickly during severe hypoglycemia.MORE

Newer Types of Glucagon

While there was only one type of emergency glucagon for decades, there are several newer and easier-to-use options available today!

All About Nasal Glucagon

Nasal glucagon can save the life of someone experiencing severe hypoglycemia. Learn everything you need to know...MORE

Zegalogue® Is Now Commercially Available in the United States

Zegalogue®, also known as dasiglucagon, is now commercially available in the U.S. for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia.MORE

All About Gvoke HypoPen®

Anyone who takes insulin and other medications that cause low blood sugar should know about the premixed insulin Gvoke HypoPen.MORE

When to Use Glucagon

Let’s talk about when glucagon can be used to reverse severe low blood sugar and save your life.

Take Insulin? Four Things You Need to Know Before Your Next Low Blood Sugar

For everyone who doses insulin, low blood sugar (also called hypoglycemia) is the most immediate and severe possible side effect. MORE

Save a Life: It’s Time to Learn About Glucagon

Easy as an EpiPen, learn how to save a life with glucagon — because someone you know can have severe hypoglycemia, even if you don't know it!MORE

Can EMTs + Paramedics Administer Emergency Glucagon for Severe Hypoglycemia?

Despite today’s modern 1-step glucagon options, the rules on who can administer glucagon have not been updated. MORE

Can Emergency Responders in Your Town Administer Glucagon?

Not every emergency responder can administer glucagon. Find out whether an EMT near you can—and what to do if they can’t!MORE

Easing Worry & Anxiety

Low blood sugars are scary. Keeping glucagon with you at all times can help you cope with anxiety and worry about severe lows.

Hypoglycemia Awareness and Type 2 Diabetes

High blood sugar isn't the only thing people with diabetes need to watch out for, but low blood sugar, too. Boost your awareness about hypoglycemia here!MORE

Low Blood Sugars + Anxiety While Returning to Your Busy Routine

Easing back into "regular" life can increase your anxiety about low blood sugars and diabetes management. Here are a few tips to help:MORE

How to Teach Your Kids about Possible Diabetes Emergencies

While it can feel scary to teach your kids about possible diabetes emergencies, feeling prepared can lower their anxiety. Here's how.MORE

Yes, I Have Low Blood Sugars with Type 2 Diabetes

Living with type 2 diabetes has its ups and its downs, including having low blood sugar. We also experience lows!MORE

Prepared for Everyday Life with Glucagon

Wherever you go, it’s always nice to have glucagon nearby.

Cold and Flu and What to Do

Getting sick can be scary, especially when you or a loved one lives with diabetes. Here's some info on what to do with the cold or flu.MORE

Why Doesn’t Glucagon Work with Alcohol?

You may have heard that glucagon is ineffective in treating low blood sugar when you're drinking. But why doesn't glucagon work with alcohol? MORE

Daily Type 2 Diabetes Kit

Make sure you have the right testing supplies to keep track of your blood sugar numbers, have enough insulin on-hand, and emergency carbohydrates that can help you track your carb intake or blood suga...MORE

Severe Hypoglycemia Disaster Preparedness Plan

Severe hypoglycemia can strike when you least expect it and be disastrous. Know what to do in the case of an emergency. MORE

Hypoglycemia and Outdoor Activities

You should be able to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities without worrying about hypoglycemia. However, it's always good to be prepared. This article will show you how to prevent hypoglycemia ...MORE

When Medications are Prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes Management

Doctors follow a set of protocols to determine when to recommend medications to T2D patients. Learn when they're likely to prescribe them.MORE

Oral Medications and The Risk of Hypoglycemia

Some oral medications have a higher risk of hypoglycemia than others. Read which oral medications are more likely to cause low blood sugar. MORE

A Frightening Lack of Glucagon Access in Mexico

An ideal scenario would be to have multiple prescriptions of glucagon in your refrigerator, hoping never to use them.MORE

Emergency Glucagon for Type 2 Diabetes: “My blood sugar was 37 mg/dL…”

If you take insulin as a person with type 2 diabetes, emergency glucagon could save your life during a severe low blood sugar. Learn more…MORE

If You Take Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes, Your Doctor Should Also Prescribe This…

If you take insulin as a person with type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider should prescribe emergency glucagon, too. Here’s why…MORE

Yes, I Have Low Blood Sugars with Type 2 Diabetes

Living with type 2 diabetes has its ups and its downs, including having low blood sugar. We also experience lows!MORE

Stories & Interviews About Glucagon

Discussing glucagon with patients, doctors and industry leaders.

Being Prepared for Hypoglycemia to Stay on Top of My Diabetes Game

Professional sports photojournalist, Keith Crear, shares his experiences with hypoglycemia and how staying prepared keeps him on top of his game against Type 2 diabetes.MORE

Nasal Glucagon Gives Me Peace of Mind

For a person relatively newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Alicia Meader talks about the importance of diabetes education, patient advocacy, as well as her life with diabetes, as if she’d bee...MORE

Staying Ready with Nasal Glucagon

T2D Mark Hanlon discussed his experiences with hypoglycemia and how he is staying ready with Baqsimi to prepare for future emergencies. MORE

T1D + T2D Perspectives on Hypoglycemia w/ Ginger + Taylor

Beyond Type 1 staff member, Ginger Vieira, and Type 2 Podcast Host and Advocate, Taylor Daniele, joined Beyond Type 2 to discuss their experiences with hypoglycemia from a type 1 and type 2 perspectiv...MORE

Dr. Steve Edelman on Hypoglycemia + Glucagon

Dr. Edelman recently took the time to chat with Beyond Type 1 about the importance of glucagon, among other key issues around hypoglycemia.MORE

WRITTEN BY Ginger Vieira, POSTED 09/13/21, UPDATED 10/17/22

Ginger Vieira is an author and writer living with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. She’s authored a variety of books, including “When I Go Low” (for kids), “Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes,” and “Dealing with Diabetes Burnout.” Before joining Beyond Type 1 as digital content manager, Ginger wrote for Diabetes Mine, Healthline, T1D Exchange, Diabetes Strong and more! In her free time, she is jumping rope, scootering with her daughters, or walking with her handsome fella and their dog.