Compositions and methods for the prevention and control of insulin-induced hypoglycemia
Pharmaceutical composition comprising both insulin and glucagon can be administered to control and treat diabetes while reducing or eliminating the risk of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
1. A method of reducing the risk of insulin-induced htpoglycemia in a diabetes patient who is being treated with insulin, which method comprises administering to the patient an amount of glucagon that results in a plasma glucagon level in the range achieved by intravenous infusion of glucagon at a rate that is not less than 0.10 ng/kg/min and not more than 5.00 ng/kg/min,
wherein glucagon is administered daily as part of a diabetes treatment regimen, and
wherein said patient is not suffering hypoglycemic symptoms and has a blood glucose level of from 70-110 mg/dL when said glucagon is administered.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said glucagon is administered simultaneously with, or within one minute to four hours after said patient has last been administered insulin.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said glucagon is administered parenterally by a subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous route.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said glucagon is a glucagon with a longer duration of action.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said glucagon is contained in a liposomal formulation.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said glucagon is contained in a microsphere.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the administration of glucagon results in a plasma glucagon level in the range achieved by intravenous infusion of glucagon at a rate that is not less than 0.10 ng/kg/min and not more than 3.00 ng/kg/min.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein glucagon is administered daily at bedtime.