How Insulin and Glucagon Work to Regulate

Blood
Glucose
Background
Over the past couple years, obesity has increased in the United States and as it
has increased, the amount of people that have developed Type II diabetes has
also increased. Type II diabetes is more common among adults and occurs when
cells are unable to respond to insulin (insulin resistance). On the other hand, Type
I diabetes is less common and occurs when their bodies do not produce the
enough insulin (insulin deficiency), so they are insulin-dependent and must take
insulin to stay alive. However, since 1980 there has been an overbearing
increase of Type II Diabetes in adolescents due to child obesity. The most
common reason for the development of diabetes is a lack of insulin produced in
the body and the counter-regulatory hormone glucagon is impaired. Glucose

How Insulin and Glucagon Are Produced

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas, alongside its counter-regulatory

hormone, glucagon, which together are referred to as pancreatic endocrine
hormones. Insulin and glucagons production determines whether or not someone is
at risk of developing diabetes. Insulin and glucagon work together to regulate blood
glucose levels in the body. They are secreted by the pancreases islet cells (alpha
and beta) and are used to respond to blood sugar levels.

The Effects of Blood Glucose Levels

Blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the
blood and blood glucose is the sugar that supplies
energy to the cells in our bodies through the
bloodstream. Our bodys blood glucose levels should
be between 70 mg/dL and 110 mg/dL (mg of glucose
per deciliter of blood). Anything below 70 mg/dL is
called hypoglycemia, which means there is not enough
glucose in the blood. Anything over 110 mg/dL can be
a result from eating two to three hours before, which is
normal. However, if your glucose levels are above 180
mg/dL, this is called hyperglycemia, which means that
there is too much glucose in the blood. A glucose
tolerance test may be done if you are at risk for
diabetes. This test is done by having the patient drink
a sugar solute water. If the results after drinking the
sugar solute water find that you have two recorded
glucose level measurements of 200 after drinking a
Figure
sugar solute water then, you are diabetic. Insulin and glucagon work together to
1
regulate blood glucose levels in the body. Refer to Figure 1 and the below sections
on how blood glucose is regulated by insulin and glucagon. 1

How Insulin Responds to Blood Glucose Levels

Insulin and glucagon work together to regulate blood glucose levels in the
body. They are secreted by the pancreases islet cells and are used to

respond to blood sugar levels. Insulin is secreted by a type of islet cell called
a beta cell. Insulin is secreted when there is a HIGH level

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Image from http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/diabetes/normal-regulation-