title: Reversing severe hypoglycemia during pregnancy with glucagon therapy.
abstract: Glucagon therapy has been used to reverse severe hypoglycemia-induced unconsciousness, but no known study exists which reports its use during pregnancy. Pregnant diabetic women were eligible if they had either a prior hypoglycemic episode requiring intravenous glucose administration or had repeated capillary blood glucose determinations less than 40 mg/dl without any warning adrenergic symptoms. Of 51 insulin-dependent diabetic women, 16 were candidates for glucagon use during a recent 3 1/2-year period. Seven of these 16 persons required an injection on 12 occasions, and an immediate reversal of unconsciousness was encountered in 11 circumstances. No apparent short- or long-term maternal adverse effects were present. We conclude that glucagon therapy is needed infrequently for diabetic women during pregnancy but is helpful in reversing acute episodes of severe hypoglycemia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rayburn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piehl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanfield
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Compton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon