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One of the most notorious ailments of the modern world, diabetes is a disease which claims its victims in numbers. And with every day that passes, these figures as well as those attributed to diabetes-induced deaths continues to rise, devastating many lives and homes in their wake. However, the most alarming fact about diabetes is the deluge of misguided information, and half-truths that continue to shroud this disease, often leading the victim to assume a not-so-effective approach to his diabetes management. As a result, the process of treatment and effective control of this disease become more long-drawn and complicated than ever, also playing a major role in diabetes-related deaths.

An alarming percentage of individuals, diabetics included, believe that it is exceedingly high levels of blood glucose that they need to watch out for. While high blood sugar is definitely something to avoid at all costs, the other end of the spectrum can be just as harmful. Lower than recommended blood sugar levels, which bring about a condition termed as hypoglycemia, can result in a variety of complications like fatigue, nausea and even diabetes-induced coma. And hence, it is moderating your blood glucose to have it stay within the confines of the recommended range which is the cornerstone of diabetes therapies and how effective they are in the long run.

Insulin, a hormone secreted by the beta cells of your pancreas, plays a very significant role in helping you control your blood glucose. This hormone reacts to any rise in the glucose levels in your blood, especially after meals, and notifies the cells of your body so that they can break down this glucose into energy to replenish themselves. This process brings down the levels of glucose in your blood, thus preventing it from causing any further damage to your body. The liver is also employed at this stage, storing energy in the form of glycogen for your muscles and organs to utilize at a later stage.

However, when the balance of the amount of glucose in your blood, and the insulin secreted by the pancreas tilts in the favor of insulin, causing the blood to be deprived of glucose, the alpha cells in the pancreas release yet another hormone termed as glucagon. This enzyme instigates your liver to convert some of the glycogen stored in it, to glucose, which is then released into the blood, thus bringing the glucose levels back within the targeted range. Victims of Type 1 diabetes, in whom the production of insulin is either absent or in very low proportions, are also known to suffer from a deficit of glucagon, which makes them even more vulnerable to unforeseen fluctuations in their blood glucose levels.

While a steady supply on insulin is essential to keep your blood glucose well within your control, glucagon is only administered as a correctional measure after hypoglycemia is detected in the individual. Glucagon is administered via Glucagon Emergency Kits which contain an inert solution-filled syringe and a vial of crystallized glucose. These kits are available at most pharmacies and once used, can help moderate your blood glucose levels within 5 minutes. The syringe first has to be injected into the vial, to allow the glucose crystals to dissolve. This solution this then drawn back into the syringe once the glucose has completely disbanded into the solution.

Glucagon is administered in a manner similar to that of insulin. The glucose solution can either be injected under your skin, or into your muscle tissue. Glucagon has been known to cause vomiting in certain individuals and hence, always ensure that you either turn, or are turned over, to your side to avoid choking on your own vomit. Often times, you may find that your body does not respond to the glucagon after the first dose is administered. This reason for this may be because your body has already progressed into an advanced stage of hypoglycemia, in which case, you would need to follow up with additional doses of glucagon.

Glucagon is one of the most effective ways to give your blood glucose levels the much-needed boost when they tend to nosedive, but cannot be viewed as a complete solution in itself. To ensure that you do not regress back into a hypoglycemic condition once the effect of glucagon has worn out, always back up your treatment with a carbohydrate-rich meal or snack. Also ensure that you stick to your recommended diet and exercise regime, to avoid further episodes of hypoglycemia and reserve this alternative only for dire and unexpected cases. Taking care of your diabetes can be as simple as making a few, effortless changes to your lifestyle and constantly updating your information to make sure you know exactly what you need to do to arrest any complication at its nascent phase. This alone will largely determine whether it is you who is in charge of your diabetes, or whether you are letting this disease tear away at your physical and mental wellbeing.

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