Dysregulation of Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Brain Tumors and Injuries

The metabolism in brain tissue depends on an uninterrupted supply of glucose. In the case of deficiency, the brain is not capable of switching to fat and protein, as other organs do. Only after several days of an inadequate glucose supply does the brain convert hydroxy-butyric and acetoacetic acid into energy. Glycogen, the stored form of glucose, is not deposited in the brain but rather in the liver and muscle, which means that a constant supply of glucose to the brain is possible only through a high flow rate of cerebral blood with a sufficiently high level of glucose.