Glucagon Test- Why am I having this test?
Glucagon is a hormone that the pancreas makes when your blood sugar (glucose) level is too low (hypoglycemia). Your health care provider may do a glucagon test to:
- Evaluate your pancreas function. This test can help diagnose a condition in which the pancreas does not make enough enzymes that help you digest food (pancreatic insufficiency).
- Evaluate your kidney function. If you recently had a kidney transplant, you may have this test to check for signs that your body is attacking the transplanted kidney (rejection).
- Help diagnose diabetes (diabetes mellitus).
- Check for a rare type of tumor that produces glucagon (glucagonoma).
What is being tested?
This test measures how much glucagon is in your body.
What kind of sample is taken?
A blood sample is required for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.
How do I prepare for this test?
Follow instructions from your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. Some medicines can affect test results.
- When to stop eating and drinking before the test. You may need to stop eating and drinking everything except water starting 10–12 hours before your test.
Tell a health care provider about:
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
How are the results reported?
Your results will be reported as picograms of glucagon per milliliter of blood (pg/mL) or as nanograms per liter (ng/L). Your health care provider will compare your results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, the common reference range is 50–100 pg/mL (50–100 ng/L).
What do the results mean?
Results within the reference range are considered normal. Results higher than the reference range may mean that you have:
- Diabetes.
- Glucagonoma.
- Kidney failure.
- Kidney transplant rejection.
Results that are lower than the reference range may mean that you have:
- Poor pancreas function.
- A lack (deficiency) of glucagon.
- Long-term (chronic) inflammation of the pancreas.
Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
Questions to ask your health care provider
Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my results be ready?
- How will I get my results?
- What are my treatment options?
- What other tests do I need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- This test measures how much glucagon is in your body. Glucagon is a hormone that the pancreas makes when your blood sugar (glucose) level is too low (hypoglycemia).
- You may have this test to help evaluate your pancreas or kidney function, diagnose diabetes, or check for a rare type of tumor that produces glucagon (glucagonoma).
- Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
