Claimed effect · Glucagon

Does Glucagon help with nasal versus intramuscular delivery?

A
Grade A — established in humans1 randomised crossover trial (n=75) · effect size: moderate
Short answerEstablished in humans. 1 randomised crossover trial (n=75) point the same way: a moderate effect. Seventy-five adults with type 1 diabetes received insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and then either the 3 mg nasal powder or 1 mg intramuscular glucagon, each at separate visits. Treatment success was reached at all but one nasal visit and at every intramuscular visit — the basis for approving a formulation a bystander can actually use.

What the studies show

Seventy-five adults with type 1 diabetes received insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and then either the 3 mg nasal powder or 1 mg intramuscular glucagon, each at separate visits. Treatment success was reached at all but one nasal visit and at every intramuscular visit — the basis for approving a formulation a bystander can actually use.

“Success criteria were met at all but one intranasal visit and at all intramuscular visits (98.7% vs. 100%; difference 1.3%, upper end of 1-sided 97.5% CI 4.0%).”

Verbatim, from the abstractRickels MR, Ruedy KJ, Foster NC, et al. Intranasal glucagon for treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes: a randomized crossover noninferiority study. Diabetes Care, 2016;39:264–270

Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.

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In context

Glucagon is the 29-amino-acid pancreatic hormone that mobilises stored glucose from the liver, and the emergency treatment for severe hypoglycaemia in people with diabetes. Modern formulations removed the reconstitution step that made the old kits hard to use in a crisis: a ready-to-use injection and a nasal powder. In a 75-person crossover trial the nasal powder raised blood glucose successfully at all but one dosing visit, against all visits for intramuscular injection. It is prescription-only everywhere LYO covers.

Glucagon is approved (rx). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Glucagon proven to help with nasal versus intramuscular delivery?
Yes, as far as human trials can show it: 1 randomised crossover trial (n=75). LYO grades this outcome A.
What studies are behind the grade?
Seventy-five adults with type 1 diabetes received insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and then either the 3 mg nasal powder or 1 mg intramuscular glucagon, each at separate visits. Treatment success was reached at all but one nasal visit and at every intramuscular visit — the basis for approving a formulation a bystander can actually use.
Is Glucagon approved for this?
Glucagon is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for Glucagon

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 29 October 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →