From the Guidelines
Glucagon injection typically lasts for about 1-2 hours in the body, with blood glucose levels usually beginning to rise within 10 minutes after administration and peaking around 30 minutes. The effects of glucagon are temporary, and individuals who use it to treat severe hypoglycemia should seek medical help after administration and consume carbohydrates once they regain consciousness to prevent another episode of low blood sugar. Some key points to consider when using glucagon include:
- The importance of seeking medical attention after using glucagon to treat severe hypoglycemia, as emphasized in the standards of medical care in diabetes 1
- The need for individuals at risk of severe hypoglycemia to have a prescribed glucagon kit and for their caregivers to be instructed on its administration, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association 1
- The short duration of action of glucagon due to its rapid metabolism in the body, which necessitates follow-up carbohydrate consumption to maintain blood glucose levels. In terms of specific formulations, newer options like nasal glucagon or ready-to-use liquid glucagon have similar durations of action to traditional glucagon injections. Overall, glucagon is a crucial tool for managing severe hypoglycemia, but its temporary effects require careful follow-up and additional treatment to prevent recurrent episodes of low blood sugar.
From the FDA Drug Label
The duration of hyperglycemic action after intravenous or intramuscular injection is 60 to 90 minutes The mean apparent half-life of glucagon was about 42 minutes after subcutaneous administration. The mean apparent half-life of glucagon was 26 minutes after intramuscular administration.
The duration of action of glucagon injection is 60 to 90 minutes after intravenous or intramuscular injection. The half-life of glucagon is approximately 26 minutes after intramuscular administration and 42 minutes after subcutaneous administration 2.
From the Research
Duration of Glucagon Injection
The duration of glucagon injection can vary depending on the route of administration and the individual's response to the treatment.
- The studies provided do not directly answer the question of how long a glucagon injection lasts, but they do provide information on the efficacy and bioavailability of glucagon administered through different routes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Efficacy of Glucagon Administration
- A study published in 2020 found that intranasal glucagon and injectable glucagon were equally effective in resolving hypoglycemia in conscious patients with type 1 diabetes 4.
- Another study published in 2020 found that nasal glucagon was non-inferior to intramuscular glucagon in adults with type 1 diabetes during insulin-induced hypoglycemia, with all participants achieving treatment success within 25 minutes 6.
- A study published in 1985 found that there was no difference in blood glucose behavior whether glucagon was injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly, but intravenous administration resulted in higher plasma glucagon levels and a steeper rise in glycemia during the first 5 minutes after injection 7.
Bioavailability of Glucagon
- The same study published in 1985 found that the bioavailability of glucagon was similar for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration, but intravenous administration resulted in higher plasma glucagon levels 7.
- The studies provided do not provide a clear answer to the question of how long a glucagon injection lasts, but they do suggest that the efficacy and bioavailability of glucagon can vary depending on the route of administration and the individual's response to treatment 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.