T1D glossary

Glucagon

Also called emergency glucagon, nasal glucagon, glucagon kit.

Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood glucose. As an emergency medicine, given by injection or nasal spray, it treats a severe low in someone who cannot eat or drink. ADA says it should be prescribed for everyone who takes insulin. (NIDDK (NIH); ADA Standards of Care 2026, section 6; CDC)

Worked example

CDC's published steps after a glucagon dose: a person who passed out usually wakes within 15 minutes; if not, they should get one more dose, and emergency medical help is called right after the injection.

Related terms

• Level 3 hypoglycemia
• 15-15 rule

Sources, quoted

• NIDDK (NIH): “a hormone that raises blood glucose levels—is the best way to treat severely low blood glucose.”
• NIDDK (NIH): “Available as an injection or a nasal spray, glucagon will quickly raise your blood glucose level.”
• ADA Standards of Care 2026, section 6: “Glucagon should be prescribed for all individuals taking insulin or at high risk for hypoglycemia.”
• CDC: “If a person faints (passes out) due to severely low blood sugar, they'll usually wake up within 15 minutes after a glucagon injection.”
• CDC: “If they don't wake up within 15 minutes after the injection, they should receive one more dose.”
• CDC: “Contact a doctor for emergency medical treatment immediately after a glucagon injection.”

Every quote above is checked against its source page before each update of this site; last checked 2026-10-06. The worked example is our own arithmetic. This page explains a term; it is not advice for a person's treatment.