Regulation and Integration of Metabolism During Hypoglycemia

In humans, blood glucose is the main reporter of fed and fasting states. Its concentration directly regulates the secretion of hormones, including glucagon and insulin by the pancreas and glucocorticoids by the adrenal cortex. These hormones, in a coordinated action, regulate the energy metabolism in different organs, allowing the blood concentration of glucose to be maintained within a narrow range by a precise system balancing glucose production by the liver and its utilization by peripheral tissues.