Does Glucagon work?
Yes, in large controlled trials: for example, 75 adults in a nose powder trial; 98.7% recovered.
Glucagon's approval for severe hypoglycemia rests on decades of clinical use plus randomised trials of the newer formulations. The cited trial, 75 adults with type 1 diabetes in a randomised crossover design, showed nasal glucagon reversed insulin-induced hypoglycemia at 98.7% of visits against 100% for intramuscular glucagon. 234
Rickels and colleagues ran a randomised crossover trial at eight centres. It enrolled 75 adults with type 1 diabetes. The researchers caused hypoglycemia with intravenous insulin. They then treated it with nasal glucagon or the intramuscular kit. Success meant glucose climbed back to the normal range, or rose by 20 points from the low, within 30 minutes. Success occurred at 98.7% of nasal visits. It occurred at 100% of injection visits. The mean time to success was 16 minutes with the nasal form. It was 13 minutes with the injection. 2
Gvoke's approval rested on similar studies. They showed that the ready-to-use liquid raised glucose as well as the mixed kit. This held in adults and children with diabetes. 3
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial Randomized crossover of nasal vs injected
- Human study over 100 people Cited trial had 75 adults
- More than one research group Several formulations and sponsors studied
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Glucose recovery in induced hypoglycemia
- Human safety data beyond case reports Trial and label safety data
More on Glucagon
Citations
- Novo Nordisk: GlucaGen HypoKit US discontinuation notice novomedlink.com
- Rickels 2016, Diabetes Care: intranasal glucagon for insulin-induced hypoglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes doi.org
- FDA 2019: Gvoke (glucagon injection) prescribing information accessdata.fda.gov
- FDA 2019: Baqsimi (glucagon nasal powder) prescribing information accessdata.fda.gov
- Novo Nordisk 2021: GlucaGen (glucagon) HypoKit and Diagnostic Kit prescribing information novo-pi.com
Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Glucagon article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.