Glucagon: the basics
What is it?
A natural pancreatic hormone that raises blood sugar by helping the liver release stored glucose.
Prescribing information ↗What do people claim it helps with?
Emergency rescue from severe low blood sugar is an established medical use. That does not make it a general energy or weight-loss treatment.
What has research actually shown?
Human studies support rescue products that raise blood sugar during severe hypoglycemia. Success depends partly on available liver glucose stores and the clinical cause.
Prescribing information ↗Has this been demonstrated in people?
Demonstrated in people, including controlled clinical trials for the uses described here. Evidence for one diagnosis does not establish benefit for every other claim.
Prescribing information ↗What side effects, risks and unknowns should I understand?
Nausea, vomiting and allergic reactions can occur. It is contraindicated in insulinoma and pheochromocytoma, particular tumors that can make its effects dangerous.
Prescribing information ↗Is it an approved medicine?
Yes. FDA-approved glucagon rescue products treat severe hypoglycemia. Some injectable products also have diagnostic uses.
Prescribing information ↗Approval here means U.S. FDA approval and applies to a particular product, formulation and use. This is a starting overview, not a complete side-effect list. Sources checked 10 October 2026; independent scientific review pending.
How is it used or studied?
Prescription nasal or injectable rescue products; instructions differ. People at risk and their caregivers need product-specific training.
Different routes and formulations can have different effects. A study of one product does not validate every product with the same peptide name.
A common misunderstanding
Glucagon raises blood sugar; insulin lowers it. They are not substitutes for one another.
What should I ask a clinician?
- What diagnosis or goal are we trying to address, and what established options are available?
- Was the expected benefit shown in people like me, using this exact product?
- How could my medicines, health conditions or pregnancy plans affect the risks?
- What monitoring is needed, and what would tell us the treatment is helping or should be stopped?
What do the research words mean?
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
- Preclinical
- Research in cells, tissues or animals before dependable treatment evidence in people.
- Controlled trial
- A study comparing a treatment with another treatment or a placebo to help separate its effects from other explanations.
- Biomarker
- A measurement, such as a hormone level. A change does not necessarily mean someone feels better or lives longer.
Glucagon Evidence & Clinical Profile
Established Clinical Trials
Glucagon has been investigated in clinical contexts. Patient outcomes must be evaluated against study size, design, and control cohorts.
Laboratory & In Vivo Assays
Cellular and animal disease models examine receptor binding affinities and signaling cascades, which require human confirmation.
What is Glucagon?
Glucagon (GlucaGen / Baqsimi) is An endogenous 29-amino-acid pancreatic alpha-cell peptide hormone that serves as the body’s primary counter-regulatory defense against hypoglycemia. FDA-approved in injectable (GlucaGen) and nasal dry-powder (Baqsimi) formulations for emergency severe hypoglycemia treatment. Aliases include: GlucaGen, Baqsimi, Pancreatic A-cell hormone.
- Sequence (one-letter)
- HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLMNT
- Molecular formula
- C153H225N43O49S
- Molecular weight
- 3482.8 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 16941-32-5
- UNII Code
- 76LA80IG2G
- PubChem CID
- 16132283
Identifiers are for glucagon; glucagon hydrochloride carries UNII 1H87NVF4DB.
Identifiers checked against PubChem and FDA's Global Substance Registration System on 13 October 2026. FDA substance record ↗ · PubChem record ↗ See all names and codes in the peptide name index.
Clinical Trials & Human Cohorts
Human research can examine tolerability, symptoms or patient outcomes. The design and comparator determine what each result can establish.
Intranasal Glucagon for Treatment of Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Noninferiority Study [1]
What was reported
Success criteria were met at 98.7% of intranasal and 100% of intramuscular visits (noninferior); mean time to success was 16 versus 13 minutes.
What limits the conclusion
Controlled setting with IV insulin-induced hypoglycemia; head/facial discomfort at 25% of intranasal visits and nausea at about a third of visits with either route.
How the compound may work
Mechanisms describe how Glucagon may affect biological processes. Laboratory findings and patient outcomes answer different questions.
Fasting Glucose Control
Secreted from islet alpha cells, glucagon controls blood glucose in the fasting state; impaired glucagon secretion predisposes some people with type 1 diabetes to hypoglycemia. [2]
Energy Intake & Expenditure
Glucagon also reduces food intake and increases energy expenditure through central and peripheral mechanisms, suggesting glucagon receptor signaling could be relevant to body weight control. [2]
Areas Being Studied
These research topics reflect active areas of scientific exploration, distinct from unverified commercial marketing claims.
Severe Hypoglycemia Emergency Rescue
Needle-free intranasal glucagon was noninferior to intramuscular glucagon for insulin-induced hypoglycemia in adults. [1]
Bi-Hormonal Artificial Pancreas Systems
A wearable bihormonal bionic pancreas delivering insulin and glucagon improved mean glucose with fewer hypoglycemic episodes than an insulin pump over 5 days in adults and adolescents. [3]
Compare the study designs.
| Study | Design / sample | Outcome type | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal vs Injectable Glucagon · 2016 [1] | Randomized crossover noninferiority trial (8 centers) n = 75 |
Clinical endpoint evaluation | Controlled setting with IV insulin-induced hypoglycemia; head/facial discomfort at 25% of intranasal visits and nausea at about a third of visits with either route. |
Regulatory Status & Clinical Safety
Regulatory Classification
FDA approved: GlucaGen (NDA 020918) injectable; Baqsimi (NDA 210134) nasal powder.
Safety Realities & Impurities
Safety depends on the molecule, formulation, route and evidence. A laboratory purity measurement alone cannot establish safety for human use.
Clinical Trials Registry Records
Official registry records from ClinicalTrials.gov. Study registration does not imply government endorsement or guaranteed efficacy.
Assessment of Intranasal Glucagon in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes [5]
- Planned enrollment
- 48 (patients)
- Posted results
- Available
- Sponsor
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Last updated
- 2018
WADA & Anti-Doping Regulations
WADA Anti-Doping Status
Glucagon is not prohibited under current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. However, athletes must ensure unregulated preparations or unverified vendor products do not violate Section S0 (Non-approved substances). Last verified: October 2026.
Research Timeline
What Researchers Still Don't Know
Long-term safety profiles
Multi-year observational data in broader heterogeneous cohorts remains uncharacterized.
Optimal dose-response thresholds
Comparative trials optimizing minimal effective exposure versus adverse event rates.
Formulation bioavailability
Differences between oral, subcutaneous, and modified peptide delivery vehicles.
References
Primary sources verified against PubMed / NLM and regulatory databases.
- Randomized Crossover Trial
-
Physiology Review
Islet α cells and glucagon--critical regulators of energy homeostasis ↗ (external website)
-
Clinical Trial
Outpatient glycemic control with a bionic pancreas in type 1 diabetes ↗ (external website)
-
Regulatory
Baqsimi (Glucagon Nasal Powder) FDA Prescribing Information ↗ (external website)
- Pediatric Clinical Study
-
Regulatory
Drugs@FDA: GlucaGen (Glucagon) NDA 020918 ↗ (external website)