glucagon
noun
glu·ca·gon
ˈglü-kə-ˌgän 
: a protein hormone that is produced especially by the islets of Langerhans and that promotes an increase in the sugar content of the blood by increasing the rate of glycogen breakdown in the liver
Examples of glucagon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So, by simultaneously boosting your insulin and lowering your glucagon, GLP-1 (and, by extension, Ozempic) lowers your blood sugar in two different ways.
—
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
Thankfully, many glucagon kits these days function like an EpiPen and are easy to administer.
—Jordyn Bradley, Fortune Well, 2 Feb. 2024
Two other hormones also play a role in regulating blood sugar — somatostatin and glucagon — and little was known then about how they are produced.
—Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
This was interesting, because people with diabetes have too much glucagon and that glucagon causes high blood sugar.
—WIRED, 12 June 2023
Mounjaro is the only dual-acting glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes in addition to diet and exercise.
—Verywell Health, 2 Feb. 2023
Previously approved by the FDA for treating type-2 diabetes, this medication was shown to improve diabetic symptoms by binding to special receptors in the gut called long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
These include glucagon, which acts as insulin’s antagonist, opposing its effects on blood sugar levels.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2012
Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that binds to GLP-1 receptors.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2023
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
Thankfully, many glucagon kits these days function like an EpiPen and are easy to administer.
—Jordyn Bradley, Fortune Well, 2 Feb. 2024
Two other hormones also play a role in regulating blood sugar — somatostatin and glucagon — and little was known then about how they are produced.
—Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
This was interesting, because people with diabetes have too much glucagon and that glucagon causes high blood sugar.
—WIRED, 12 June 2023
Mounjaro is the only dual-acting glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes in addition to diet and exercise.
—Verywell Health, 2 Feb. 2023
Previously approved by the FDA for treating type-2 diabetes, this medication was shown to improve diabetic symptoms by binding to special receptors in the gut called long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
These include glucagon, which acts as insulin’s antagonist, opposing its effects on blood sugar levels.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2012
Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that binds to GLP-1 receptors.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glucagon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Glucagon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glucagon. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
glucagon
noun
glu·ca·gon
ˈglü-kə-ˌgän
: a protein hormone that is produced especially by the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and that promotes an increase in the sugar content of the blood by increasing the rate of breakdown of glycogen in the liver
called also hyperglycemic factor, hyperglycemic-glycogenolytic factor
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