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Is Glucagon Stimulation Test Used To Confirm Pregnancy?

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Posted on Tue, 8 Aug 2017
Question: Will a glucagon stimulation test show pregnancy?
will the results be influenced by pregnancy ?
Can it harm a pregnancy?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
About glucagon stimulation test;

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
First I would like to inform you that glucagon stimulation test is not used to confirm the pregnancy.
It can be used in pregnancy (at 25 weeks to check for gestational diabetes) but it's results are not reliable to diagnose growth hormone deficiency or cortisol deficiency due to high levels of estrogens.
It is not harmful for the baby (it may cause late hypoglycemia which can be immediately corrected ).
Please specify better your query for further information.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mirjeta Guni (3 hours later)
Thank you.
I am asking if I take the test will the reviewer realize I am pregnant? I do not want to discuss my pregnancy with anyone.
How do the estrogens influence the HGH or cortisol? I read that maternal HGH is supressed during pregnancy. Should I decline the test? or if I take it could it show any deficiencies at all? I was in a bad car accident and they think my head trauma effected my pituitary and are trying to figure it out what the effect was.

I basically want to find out if my pituitary was effected without revealing to anyone that at this time I am newly pregnant for privacy reasons.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
About cortisol and GH evaluation in pregnancy:

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
If you accept to do the test, you should reveal you are pregnant for some reasons:
-They should me more careful in treating hypoglycemia caused by glucagon
-The results should be interpreted differently in pregnancy. High estrogen can increase ACTH and affect cortisol response, but not IGF1.
The reviewer will not realize you are pregnant if you do not tell them.
I would suggest to decline the test if you do not want to reveal the pregnancy.
Anyway, if IGF1 is low, it is not recommended to start treatment with growth hormone during pregnancy, so it will not change anything.
Regarding to cortisol, it would be better checked with ACTH stimulation test in pregnancy.
Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta

Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Mirjeta Guni

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2414 Questions

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Is Glucagon Stimulation Test Used To Confirm Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: About glucagon stimulation test; Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking! First I would like to inform you that glucagon stimulation test is not used to confirm the pregnancy. It can be used in pregnancy (at 25 weeks to check for gestational diabetes) but it's results are not reliable to diagnose growth hormone deficiency or cortisol deficiency due to high levels of estrogens. It is not harmful for the baby (it may cause late hypoglycemia which can be immediately corrected ). Please specify better your query for further information. Kind regards, Dr.Mirjeta