Role of Hormones in the Regulation of Blood Glucose Levels
The human body uses glucose as its main source of energy. Therefore, the pancreas, a part of the endocrine system, regulates how much glucose is present in the blood by releasing two hormones, insulin and glucagon.
Other People Are Reading
-
Blood Glucose Maintenance
-
According to Human Anatomy and Physiology, the body maintains a constant blood glucose level (roughly 80 to 100 mg of glucose in every 100 milliliters of blood) because the brain needs a constant supply of glucose to use for energy.
Insulin
-
Insulin is a short peptide hormone produced by the pancreas. It is released in response to high blood glucose levels and causes body cells to increase their intake of glucose from the bloodstream. It also stimulates the liver to produce glycogen (a form of short-term glucose storage).
-
Glucagon
-
Glucagon is also produced by the pancreas, but it is released in response to low blood glucose levels. This hormone stimulates the liver to break glycogen down into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream.
Hormonal Balance
-
Insulin and glucagon both negatively regulate the other hormone's activity. This means that the body is not producing and breaking down glycogen at the same time.
Hormonally-Related Diseases
-
The most prominent disease related to blood glucose levels is diabetes mellitus. A person suffering from this disease either does not produce enough insulin or has developed a resistance to insulin, meaning that his body cells do not respond properly to the hormone.
-
