HOW DOES THE BODY CONTROL GLUCOSE?

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HOW DOES THE BODY CONTROL GLUCOSE?

The amount of glucose in the blood is controlled mainly by

the hormones insulin and glucagon. Too much or too little of

these hormones can cause blood sugar levels to fall too low

(hypoglycemia) or rise too high (hyperglycemia). Other hormones

that influence blood sugar levels are cortisol, growth hormone,

and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine).

The pancreas, a gland in the upper abdomen, produces insulin

and glucagon. The pancreas is dotted with hormone-producing

tissue called the islets of Langerhans, which contain alpha

and beta cells. When blood sugar rises after a meal, the beta

cells release insulin. The insulin helps glucose enter body

cells, lowering blood levels of glucose to the normal range.

When blood sugar drops too low, the alpha cells secrete

glucagon. This signals the liver to release stored glycogen

and change it back to glucose, raising blood sugar levels

to the normal range. Muscles also store glycogen that can

be converted to glucose.

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'All that I have seen teaches me to trust God for all I have not seen.'

~Sugar