BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGlucagon blood testGlucagonoma - glucagon test; Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I - glucagon test; Hypoglycemia - glucagon test; Low blood sugar - glucagon test A glucagon blood test measures the amount of a hormone called glucagon in your blood. Glucagon is produced by specific cells in the pancreas. It helps control your blood sugar level by increasing blood sugar when it is too low. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.Read Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test Your health care provider will tell you if you need to fast (not eat anything) for a period of time before the test. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Glucagon stimulates the liver to release glucose. As the level of blood sugar decreases, the pancreas releases more glucagon. And as blood sugar increases, the pancreas releases less glucagon.The provider may measure glucagon level if a person has symptoms of:Diabetes (not commonly measured) Glucagonoma (rare tumor of the pancreas) with symptoms of a skin rash called necrotizing migratory erythema, weight loss, mild diabetes, anemia, stomatitis, glossitis GlucagonomaGlucagonoma is a very rare tumor of the islet cells of the pancreas, which leads to an excess of the hormone glucagon in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...Read Article Now Book Mark Article StomatitisGingivostomatitis is an infection of the mouth and gums that leads to swelling and sores. It may be due to a virus or bacteria.Read Article Now Book Mark Article GlossitisGlossitis is a problem in which the tongue is swollen and inflamed. This often makes the surface of the tongue appear smooth. Geographic tongue is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Growth hormone deficiency in children Growth hormone deficiency in childrenGrowth hormone deficiency means the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver and poor liver function) CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) -- most common reason HypoglycemiaLow blood sugar is a condition that occurs when the body's blood sugar (glucose) decreases and is too low. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL (3. 9 mmol/L) i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor) Multiple endocrine neoplasia type IMultiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I is a disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or forms a tumor. It is passed do...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) PancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 50 to 100 pg/mL.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may indicate that the person may have a condition described above under Why the Test is Performed.Some experts now believe that high glucagon levels in the blood contribute to the development of diabetes instead of just a low level of insulin. Medicines are being developed to decrease glucagon levels or block the signal from glucagon in the liver.When your blood sugar is low, the level of glucagon in your blood should be high. If it is not increased, this can help identify people that are at higher risk of severe hypoglycemia that can be dangerous.Glucagon can be increased by prolonged fasting. Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Multiple punctures to locate veins Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Open ReferencesReferencesChernecky CC, Berger BJ. Glucagon - plasma. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:580-581.Mojica A, Weinstock RS. Carbohydrates. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Self Care Diabetes - when you are sick Tests for Glucagon blood test Glucagon blood testKetones urine testRelated Information Glucagonoma(Condition)Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I(Condition) Review Date: 8/12/2022 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Glucagon blood testGlucagonoma - glucagon test; Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I - glucagon test; Hypoglycemia - glucagon test; Low blood sugar - glucagon test A glucagon blood test measures the amount of a hormone called glucagon in your blood. Glucagon is produced by specific cells in the pancreas. It helps control your blood sugar level by increasing blood sugar when it is too low. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed.Blood sample is neededVenipuncture is the collection of blood from a vein. It is most often done for laboratory testing.Read Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test Your health care provider will tell you if you need to fast (not eat anything) for a period of time before the test. How the Test will Feel When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away. Why the Test is Performed Glucagon stimulates the liver to release glucose. As the level of blood sugar decreases, the pancreas releases more glucagon. And as blood sugar increases, the pancreas releases less glucagon.The provider may measure glucagon level if a person has symptoms of:Diabetes (not commonly measured) Glucagonoma (rare tumor of the pancreas) with symptoms of a skin rash called necrotizing migratory erythema, weight loss, mild diabetes, anemia, stomatitis, glossitis GlucagonomaGlucagonoma is a very rare tumor of the islet cells of the pancreas, which leads to an excess of the hormone glucagon in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...Read Article Now Book Mark Article StomatitisGingivostomatitis is an infection of the mouth and gums that leads to swelling and sores. It may be due to a virus or bacteria.Read Article Now Book Mark Article GlossitisGlossitis is a problem in which the tongue is swollen and inflamed. This often makes the surface of the tongue appear smooth. Geographic tongue is ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Growth hormone deficiency in children Growth hormone deficiency in childrenGrowth hormone deficiency means the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver and poor liver function) CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) -- most common reason HypoglycemiaLow blood sugar is a condition that occurs when the body's blood sugar (glucose) decreases and is too low. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL (3. 9 mmol/L) i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor) Multiple endocrine neoplasia type IMultiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I is a disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or forms a tumor. It is passed do...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) PancreatitisAcute pancreatitis is sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results The normal range is 50 to 100 pg/mL.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may indicate that the person may have a condition described above under Why the Test is Performed.Some experts now believe that high glucagon levels in the blood contribute to the development of diabetes instead of just a low level of insulin. Medicines are being developed to decrease glucagon levels or block the signal from glucagon in the liver.When your blood sugar is low, the level of glucagon in your blood should be high. If it is not increased, this can help identify people that are at higher risk of severe hypoglycemia that can be dangerous.Glucagon can be increased by prolonged fasting. Risks There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:Excessive bleeding Multiple punctures to locate veins Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Open ReferencesReferencesChernecky CC, Berger BJ. Glucagon - plasma. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:580-581.Mojica A, Weinstock RS. Carbohydrates. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.