Insulin and glucagon help maintain blood sugar levels. Glucagon helps prevent blood sugar from dropping, while insulin stops it from rising too high. Insulin and glucagon work together in a balance and play a vital role in regulating a person's blood sugar levels. Glucagon breaks down glycogen to glucose in the liver.

1. Mr. Abhijit Bhoyar
Assistant Professor
Department of
Part-I
REGULATION
OF BLOOD GLUCOSE
Child Health Nursing
CARBOHYDRATE

2. Specific Learning Objectives
At the end of the lecture, the students will be
able to
• Explain the importance of Glucose.
• Explain the regulation of blood glucose.
• Describe the sources of glucose into the blood.
• Identify the factors maintaining blood sugar.
• Explain the homeostasis of glucose regulation
mechanism.

3. Introduction
Regulation of blood glucose
is largely done through the endocrine hormones of
the pancreas, a beautiful balance of hormones achieved
through a negative feedback loop. The main hormones
of the pancreas that affect blood glucose include insulin,
glucagon, somatostatin, and amylin.

4. Blood Glucose Regulation
Normal
Plasma
Glucose
Factors
Maintaining
Blood Glucose
Post
Prandial
Regulation
Regulation
During Fasting
Clinical
Aspect

7. What goes wrong when the concentration
increases too far?
• Hyperglycaemia- The symptoms include:
Excessive thirst,
frequent urination
Fatigue, weight loss
Vision problems
such as blurring;
Increased susceptibility
to infections
Diabetes mellitus

8. Importance of Glucose
• Glucose is the preferred source of energy for most
of the body tissue.
• Brain cells derive energy mainly from glucose. So if
there is any derangement occur to the supply of
glucose to brain , brain damage may occur – life
threatening condition.
• So the regulation of blood glucose is very important

9. Cont….
• The maintenance of glucose level in blood within
narrow limits is a very finely and efficiently regulated
system.
• This is important , because it is essential to have
continuous supply of glucose to the brain.
• Brain has an obligatory requirement for glucose.
• RBC and renal medulla are also dependent on glucose
of meeting their fuel needs.

10. Sources of glucose into the blood
Glucose is derived from 3 sources
1. Intestinal absorption of dietary carbohydrates
2. Glycogen breakdown in liver and kidney. Liver stores
25-138 grams of glycogen, a 3 to 8 hour supply.
3. Gluconeogenesis, the formation of glucose from non-
carbohydrate precursors . These include lactate and
pyruvate, amino acids (alanine and glutamine).

11. Factors Maintaining Blood sugar
• The plasma glucose level at an instant depends on the
balance between glucose entering and leaving the
extracellular fluid.
• The major factors which cause entry of glucose into
blood are
Absorption from intestines
 Glycogenolysis(breakdown of glycogen)
 Gluconeogenesis
 Hyperglycemic hormones (glucagon, steroids) or Glucose
obtained from other carbohydrates, eg: fructose, galactose
etc

12. Cont….
Factors leading to depletion of glucose in the blood :
Utilization by tissues for energy.
Glycogen synthesis
 Conversion of glucose into fat (lipogenesis)
Hypoglycaemia hormone ( insulin).

13. Glucose Homeostasis
It is the maintenance of blood glucose
level within the normal range.
The blood glucose level must be maintained within the
narrow limits of 70-100 mg/dl.

14. Cont….
• When we eat food, our blood glucose concentration
increase , which stimulates insulin secretion from Beta -
cells and final glucose absorption by peripheral tissues.
• In between meals or in times of starvation, we are not
taking in glucose and, therefore, experience a drop in
blood glucose.
• During these times, the Alfa -cells release glucagon,
which stimulates the liver to make glucose by
glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, and thereby
increase blood glucose to normal levels.

15. Homeostasis of glucose Regulation
mechanism
• A steady maintenance of blood glucose with in a
narrow range.
• Fasting state and fed states – their effects on blood
glucose (BG ).
• Rate of glucose appearance (Ra.)
• Rate of glucose disappearance (Rd) must be in
balance.

20. Cont….
Glucose in balance
• High blood glucose triggers the pancreas to release
insulin.
• Pancreas releases insulin
• Blood vessels carry insulin and glucose to cells

22. Cont….
Glucose in balance
• Low blood glucose triggers the pancreas to release
glucagon
• Pancreas releases glucagon
• Blood vessels carry glucagon to the body to trigger the
release of stored glucose back into the blood.

24. Fasting State
1. Short fast
• Utilizes free glucose (15-20%)
• Break down of glycogen (75%)
2. Overnight fast
• Glycogen breakdown (75%)
• Gluconeogenesis (25%)

25. Cont….
3.Prolonged fast
• Less of liver glycogen remains.
• Gluconeogenesis becomes only source of glucose
• Muscle protein is degraded for amino acids.
• Lipolysis generates ketones for additional fuel.

26. The Body Organ
1. Pancreas: One of the major players in glucose
homeostasis, the pancreas releases the hormones,
insulin and glucagon, that control blood glucose.
2. Liver: This organ takes up glucose when levels are
high and releases glucose when levels are low. It
stores glucose as glycogen. It is key for glucose
regulation. Medical Technology

27. Cont….
3. Muscles: Our muscles are able to take up and store
lots of glucose when insulin is present.
4. Fat cells : take up glucose when insulin is present.
5. Brain: The brain takes up glucose whenever it needs
energy, and doesn’t require insulin.

29. Summary
we have discussed about
importance of glucose, sources of glucose into the blood,
Identify the factors maintaining blood sugar,
homeostasis of glucose regulation mechanism.

30. Expected Questions
Short
• Explain the importance of Glucose.
• Explain the regulation of blood glucose.
• Describe the sources of glucose into the blood.
• Identify the factors maintaining blood sugar.
• Explain the homeostasis of glucose regulation
mechanism.