glucagon
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GC: n

S: YH – http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/glucagon.aspx (last access: 3 November 2016); MEDLP – https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682480.html (last access: 5 November 2016)

N: 1. 1923, from gluco– + Greek agon, present participle of agein “to lead”.
2. Mayo clinic provides a second definition: Glucagon belongs to the group of medicines called hormones. It is an emergency medicine used to treat severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with diabetes who have passed out or cannot take some form of sugar by mouth.
3. Glucagon works along with the hormone insulin to control blood sugar levels and keep them within set levels. Glucagon is released to stop blood sugar levels dropping too low, while insulin is released to stop blood sugar levels rising too high.
4. In people with diabetes, glucagon’s presence can raise blood glucose levels too high.
The reason for this is either because not enough insulin is present or, as is the case in type 2 diabetes, the body is less able to respond to insulin.
In type 1 diabetes, high levels of circulating insulin can inhibit the release of glucagon in response to hypoglycemia.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=glucagon (last access: 3 November 2016). 2. MAYO – http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/glucagon-injection-route/description/drg-20064089(last access: 3 November 2016). 3. YH – http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/glucagon.aspx (last access: 3 November 2016). 4. DIAB – –http://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/glucagon.html (last access: 3 November 2016 ).

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CR: alanine, cholesterol, diabetes, ubiquitin.