Hormonal Regulation of Blood Glucose: How the Body Controls Sugar Levels

Hormonal Regulation of Blood Glucose: How the Body Controls Sugar Levels

Factors regulating blood sugar levels.
Answer.

Regulation Of Blood Glucose Level

Blood glucose level is regulated by the following hormones:

• Insulin
• Glucocorticoids
• Growth hormone
• ACTH
• Epinephrine
• Glucagon
• Thyroid hormones

Insulin

Insulin is secreted from the beta cells of the pancreas.

Insulin decreases blood glucose level by

• It decreases the delivery of glucose from the liver to the blood
• It increase glycolysis
• It increases glycogenesis
• It decreases glycogenolysis
• It decreases gluconeogenesis

Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are secreted from the adrenal cortex

Glucocorticoids increase blood glucose level by:

• They increase protein catabolism in the peripheral tissues and the amino acids formed are used for gluconeogenesis
• They decrease the peripheral uptake of glucose
• They decrease glycolysis
• They increase gluconeogenesis

Growth Hormone

Growth hormone is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland

Growth hormone increases the blood glucose level by:

• It decreases the glucose uptake by certain tissues e.g. muscles
• It increases gluconeogenesis

ACTH

Adreno cortico tropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland

It increases the blood glucose level by:

• It increases the secretion of glucocorticoids
• It increases gluconeogenesis

Epinephrine

Epinephrine is secreted from the adrenal medulla

Epinephrine increases the blood glucose level by:

• It increases glycogenolysis in the liver and muscles
• It increases ACTH formation
• It increases gluconeogenesis
• It inhibits the release of insulin from the pancreas

Glucagon

Glucagon is secreted from the alpha cells of the pancreas

Glucagon increases blood glucose level by:

• It increases glycogenolysis in the liver
• It increases gluconeogenesis

Thyroid Hormones

Thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) are secreted from the thyroid gland

They increase the blood glucose level by:

• They cause destruction of insulin
• They increase the absorption of glucose from the intestine
• They increase gluconeogenesis
• They increase protein catabolism in the peripheral tissues and the amino acids formed are used for gluconeogenesis
• They increase glycogenolysis