Glucoregulation: The Basics

Sugar Wikipedia "labeled for reuse"

Homeostasis. Here we go again. So another aspect of our blood also needs to be kept in a narrow range of conditions. Blood glucose levels. Like many things, blood glucose is regulated by your hypothalamus. Good on you hypothalamus.

Controlling blood glucose is an example of negative feedback. No it's not insulting the way the pancreas looks. Goodness, we're not in middle school. Sheesh. Okay so negative feedback is when the body has to change conditions to keep something in a narrow field. So it corrects things, it stops processes from continuing. Whereas positive feedback compliments your new scarf. Hehem. It encourages a process to continue. 

High levels of blood glucose 

Glucose levels cannot go higher than around 110 something or others (I can't remember test units if you can't tell...). So your hypothalamus carefully monitors this. If it senses too much glucose it signals the pancrease's beta cells to produce insulin. The insulin encourages the muscles and the liver to take up glucose. The glucose can then be used for cellular respiration. The glucose absorbed by the liver is converted in to the storage polysaccharide glycogen. 

Low levels of blood glucose (sugar)

On the flip side, too low blood sugar is also undesirable. So your hypothalamus signals your pancreas again (it's a busy little fellow). This time it makes the alpha cells, in the pancreas, produce glucagon. Glucagon then stimulates the liver to break down some of its glycogen storage into glucose. This glucose can then be released into the blood stream, thus increasing blood sugar. Problem solved. 

Be nice to your pancreas, it works hard. Every day. You should try it sometime. Kidding. But seriously try and do something  productive, we'll all thank you. 

Keep reading folks

Tea: Lipton's caffeine free Mint tea (pretty good, need to get a new box this is my last tea bag)