How do endocrine hormones control blood sugar levels?

QUESTION: I want to know the effect of endocrine hormones in controlling blood sugar levels. Thank you.


ANSWER: Hi,

Control of the blood sugar levels is a very complicated because of several hormones that are implicated.

First of all, you must know that the regulation of the blood sugar is a part of the homeostasis (the will of the organism to maintain a stable and dynamic condition) and for that reason, we can divide the hormones that take place in the blood sugar regulation in two main groups:

1- first group- hormones that reduce the blood sugar, and

2- the second group- hormones, which are raising the blood sugar.

The most important hormone is insulin. When the secretion of the insulin reduces, we have to replace the insulin with a synthetic one or to stimulate its production or secretion via drugs.

This hormone helps the glucose to enter in the cells and leads to the storage of the glucose in the form of glycogen. Therefore, enough energy is provided to the organism, which stores it as energy reserves.

The other group of hormones, which increase the level of the blood glucose is composed of 7 hormones: Somatostatin, Glucagon, Epinephrine, Cortisol, Growth hormone, Thyroxin and Adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Each of these hormones has a different way to raise the blood glucose. For example, glucagon is leading to the dissociation of glycogen, providing more glucose for the organism when the glucose blood level is low.

Cortisol, on the other hand, leads to the formation of glucose from other substances. In fact, the glucose balance is "preserved" through complicated mechanisms, based on the levels of blood sugar.

So, when you have low amount of glucose, the secretion of the hormones form the second group is increased. On contrary, when you have high blood glucose levels, the secretion of the insulin is elevated.

Hope you had your answer!

Dr.Alba