Glucagon blood test

A blood sample is needed.

Your health care provider will tell you if you need to fast (not eat anything) for a period of time before the test.

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.

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
• Glucagonoma (rare tumor of the pancreas) with symptoms of a skin rash called necrotizing migratory erythema, weight loss, mild diabetes, anemia, stomatitis, glossitis
• Growth hormone deficiency in children
• Liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver and poor liver function)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (disease in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

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.

Abnormal results may indicate that the person may have a condition described above under Why the Test Is Performed.

Glucagon can be increased by prolonged fasting.

Veins vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)