The regulation of blood sugar involves a tight regulation process known as glucose homeostasis. The main micronutrient involved in the process is carbohydrates which has glycogen and glucose units. Carbohydrates further comprises of alpha and beta bonds in polysaccharides that are useful in the process as well. The pancreas plays an important role in this process as it stores both hormones that lowers and increases blood sugar, insulin and glucagon. Pancreatic hormones are released directly into the blood stream in a manner referred to as endocrine. The pancreas moreover maintains the levels of blood glucose within an extreme range of between 4 to 6 mM. This is achieved through the disparate and balanced functions of the two hormones, glucagon and insulin.
Blood glucose levels are usually high immediately after a meal. The beta cells are located in the Langerhans contained in insulin. Evidently, this hormone stimulates the liver to convert glucose to glycogen (in a process known as glycogenesis). The facilitative glucose transporter that takes up blood glucose is referred to as GLUT2 (SLC2A2) and is located on the surface of the beta cells. The vesicles that have these transporters fuse in the plasma membrane after insulin binds itself to the cell surface receptors. The process compels a majority of body cells primarily consisting of fat tissues and primary muscle to absorb glucose from the blood and this decreases blood sugar. In between meals, the levels of blood glucose are usually low. The alpha cells from the pancreas therefore release a hormone known as glucagon whose impact on the liver cells is to increase the levels of blood glucose. This takes place through a process known as glycogenolysis where glycogen conversion to glucose occurs. The glucose then enters the bloodstream and this result to an increase in blood sugar.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar Regulation".
- Röder, P. V., Wu, B., Liu, Y., & Han, W. (2016). Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis. Experimental & molecular medicine, 48(3), e219.
