Medical Insulin vs Glucagon: How the Body Balances Glucose Levels

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Insulin and glucagon are antagonistic hormones crucial for maintaining homeostatic glucose levels in the body. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas when blood glucose levels rise, facilitating the storage of excess glucose in the liver and adipose tissues. Conversely, glucagon is released when blood glucose levels drop, promoting the release of glucose into circulation. The body has mechanisms to prevent insulin from being secreted again when glucagon is active, ensuring that glucose produced from gluconeogenesis is not unnecessarily stored. The regulation of insulin and glucagon is complex, involving the body's ability to distinguish between glucose derived from food and that produced internally. There is also a discussion about whether both hormones can be elevated or suppressed simultaneously, indicating a need for further exploration of their regulatory mechanisms. Understanding these interactions is essential for comprehending metabolic processes and potential disorders.
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The endocrine system maintains homeostasis by the action of antagonistic hormones. Why don't they destroy each other to the point of complete destruction in the race against each other?
We know that insulin and Glucagon are considered antagonistic hormones as they help us to maintain the homeostatic glucose level for our cells.

When the concentration of blood glucose rises (after eating, for example), beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin into the blood. Insulin helps to store the excess glucose into storage cells like liver and adipose cells. When the blood glucose level is reduced, Glucagon kicks in and brings more glucose into blood circulation.

At this condition, what prevents insulin to be kicked in again? If so, the glucose produced by the glucagon would be pushed again into storage cells, unnecessarily. Obviously body is not doing this futile act.

I would like to know, how the body decides if the glucose that is circulated is from food (for which insulin may be necessary) or from gluconeogenesis etc (for which insulin should not be produced)?

Also, is there a condition or possibility wherein both insulin and glucagon would be high or low, ie., in a similar state?
 
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mktsgm said:
Summary: The endocrine system maintains homeostasis by the action of antagonistic hormones. Why don't they destroy each other to the point of complete destruction in the race against each other?

We know that insulin and Glucagon are considered antagonistic hormones as they help us to maintain the homeostatic glucose level for our cells.

When the concentration of blood glucose rises (after eating, for example), beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin into the blood. Insulin helps to store the excess glucose into storage cells like liver and adipose cells. When the blood glucose level is reduced, Glucagon kicks in and brings more glucose into blood circulation.

At this condition, what prevents insulin to be kicked in again? If so, the glucose produced by the glucagon would be pushed again into storage cells, unnecessarily. Obviously body is not doing this futile act.

I would like to know, how the body decides if the glucose that is circulated is from food (for which insulin may be necessary) or from gluconeogenesis etc (for which insulin should not be produced)?

Also, is there a condition or possibility wherein both insulin and glucagon would be high or low, ie., in a similar state?
Did you check the link? A decent biochemistry book will give you the details. Are you studying?
 
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