Hormones: Glucagon

Glucagon is secreted to maintain glucose levels in the bloodstream when fasting and to raise very low glucose levels.


What is glucagon?

Glucagon is a hormone that is involved in controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is secreted into the bloodstream by the alpha cells, found in the islets of Langerhans, in the pancreas. The glucagon-secreting alpha cells surround a core of insulin-secreting beta cells, which reflects the close relationship between the two hormones.

 Glucagon’s role in the body is to prevent blood glucose levels dropping too low. To do this, it acts on the liver in several ways:
  • It stimulates the conversion of stored glycogen (stored in the liver) to glucose which can be released into the bloodstream. This process is called glycogenolysis.
  • It promotes the production of glucose from amino acid molecules. This process is called gluconeogenesis.
  • It reduces glucose consumption by the liver so that as much glucose as possible can be secreted into the bloodstream to maintain blood glucose levels.

Glucagon also acts on adipose tissue to stimulate the breakdown of fat stores into the bloodstream.


How is glucagon controlled?  

Glucagon works along with the hormone insulin to control blood sugar levels and keep them within set levels. Glucagon is released to stop blood sugar levels dropping too low, while insulin is released to stop blood sugar levels rising too high. 

 Release of glucagon is stimulated by low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia), protein-rich meals and adrenaline (another important hormone for combating low glucose). Release of glucagon is prevented by raised blood glucose and carbohydrate in meals, detected by cells in the pancreas.

 In the longer-term, glucagon is crucial to the body’s response to lack of food. For example, it encourages the use of stored fat for energy in order to preserve the limited supply of glucose.

What happens if I have too much glucagon?

Rare tumours of the pancreas called glucagonomas can secrete excessive quantities of glucagon. This can cause diabetes mellitus, weight loss, venous thrombosis and a characteristic skin rash.


What happens if I have too little glucagon?

Unusual cases of deficiency of glucagon secretion have been reported in babies. This results in severely low blood glucose which cannot be controlled without administering glucagon. 

 Glucagon can be given by injection to restore blood glucose lowered by insulin (even in unconscious patients). It can increase glucose release from glycogen stores more than insulin can suppress it. The effect of glucagon is limited, so it is very important to eat a carbohydrate meal once the person has recovered enough to eat safely.

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