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The pancreas plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by producing hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose for energy, while glucagon prevents blood sugar from dropping too low. Problems with these hormones can lead to diabetes and other health issues, necessitating medical oversight and lifestyle management.

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001

The pancreas plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by producing hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose for energy, while glucagon prevents blood sugar from dropping too low. Problems with these hormones can lead to diabetes and other health issues, necessitating medical oversight and lifestyle management.

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dotto.infotz
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Endocrine Library Pancreas Hormones

PATIENT RE SOURCE S

Pancreas Hormones
January 24, 2022

The main function of the pancreas is to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It is a large
gland located behind the stomach. It produces insulin, glucagon, and other
hormones. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or
when the body does not use insulin properly (called insulin resistance).

Glucagon
▾Glucagon

Glucagon is a hormone that works with other hormones and bodily functions to
control glucose levels in the blood. It comes from alpha cells found in the
pancreas and is closely related to insulin-secreting beta cells, making it a crucial
component that keeps the body’s blood glucose levels stable.

While glucagon keeps blood glucose from dropping too low, insulin is produced to
keep blood glucose from rising too high. The two hormones counterbalance each
other to stabilize blood glucose. When blood glucose levels fall too low (low blood
glucose), the pancreas pumps out more glucagon. This hormone helps blood
glucose rise back up in multiple ways:

It causes the liver to convert stored glucose into a usable form and then release
it into the bloodstream. (A process called glycogenolysis.)
Glucagon also stops the liver from taking in and storing glucose, so more stays
in the blood.
Glucagon helps the body make glucose from other sources, such as amino
acids.

When everything is working well, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into
the cells, where it is used for energy. Meanwhile, a complex feedback system
within the body lets it know when no more glucagon is needed. In a nutshell,
glucagon normally keeps blood glucose from dropping too low. Insulin keeps it
from rising too high. The two hormones counterbalance each other.

Potential problems with glucagon function

Glucagon function is crucial to proper blood glucose levels, so problems with


glucagon production will lead to problems with glucose levels. Low levels of
glucagon are rare but are sometimes seen in babies. The main result is low levels
of blood glucose. The treatment is to inject the patient with glucagon. When the
individual has recovered sufficiently, eating carbohydrates will then raise the
blood glucose levels even more.

High levels of glucagon are also rare but can occur when a patient develops a
specific type of tumor in the pancreas. Patients with high levels of glucagon can
develop diabetes mellitus or experience unexpected weight loss.

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

A mild case of hypoglycemia may cause shakiness, headache, sweating, clammy


skin, or a pounding heartbeat. Blood glucose level falls to 54–69 mg/dL. Mild
hypoglycemia can generally be treated by consuming 15 grams of a fast-acting
sugar source, such as fruit juice, non-diet soda, hard candies, or glucose tablets.

If hypoglycemia becomes severe, you may not be able to safely swallow food or
drink. By this point, the blood glucose level is less than 54 mg/dL—often below 40
mg/dL. You may feel very confused, pass out, or have a seizure. Without prompt
treatment, severe hypoglycemia may lead to a coma or even death.

Fortunately, severe hypoglycemia in a person with diabetes can be treated with


prescription glucagon. Someone else will likely need to administer the glucagon,
but this person does not have to be a health care professional. Relatives, friends,
coworkers, and others can learn to give glucagon.

▸Emergency Glucagon

Insulin is Essential

▾Insulin
Essential for life, the hormone insulin regulates many metabolic processes that
provide cells with needed energy. Understanding insulin, what insulin does, and
how it affects the body, is important to your overall health. Tucked away behind
the stomach is an organ called the pancreas, which produces insulin. Insulin
production is regulated based on blood sugar levels and other hormones in the
body. In a healthy individual, insulin production and release is a tightly regulated
process, allowing the body to balance its metabolic needs.

What Does Insulin Do?

Insulin allows the cells in the muscles, fat and liver to absorb glucose that is in the
blood. The glucose serves as energy to these cells, or it can be converted into fat
when needed. Insulin also affects other metabolic processes, such as the
breakdown of fat or protein.

Problems with Insulin Production or Use

The most common problem associated with insulin is diabetes. Diabetes occurs
when the body either does not secrete enough insulin or when the body no longer
uses the insulin it secretes effectively. Diabetes falls into two categories:

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce insulin sufficiently to
meet its own needs. This commonly occurs in children, and while an exact cause
has not been found, many consider it to be an autoimmune disease. Some
symptoms of type 1 diabetes include tiredness, increased urination and thirst, and
problems with vision.

Type 2 diabetes is more commonly associated with adults and lifestyle choices.
People with type 2 diabetes will produce insulin but often not enough for their
body's needs. They may also struggle to use the insulin they produce effectively.
Patients may not know they have type 2 diabetes until they have an annual
checkup, as symptoms tend to be mild until the disease has become severe.
When the body does not produce enough insulin or use it efficiently, blood sugar
levels build in the body. Also, the body's cells do not receive the energy they need
from glucose, so the patient may struggle with fatigue. When the body turns to
other tissue, like fat or muscle, for energy, weight loss may occur.

High blood sugars are a common symptom of diabetes, but patients who are
treating their diabetes with insulin injections may inject too much insulin on
occasion. This causes the body's cells to take too much glucose from the blood,
leading to a low blood sugar episode. Low blood sugar can cause confusion,
dizziness and fainting. Because nerve cells rely entirely on glucose for energy, low
blood sugar can also trigger a nervous system response.

If you suspect that you are struggling with insulin levels and production, your
healthcare provider can have your insulin levels checked by an A1c blood test. If
you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will need medical oversight to manage the
condition. Consider asking:

How can I manage blood sugar and insulin levels?


What type of monitoring do I need?
What lifestyle changes can make blood sugar levels more stable?
How can I prevent diabetes from developing if I am at risk but have not
developed the disease?
Return to Hormones and Endocrine Function>>>

ED I TO R (S) : Ramon Martinez, M.D.

L A S T UPDAT ED : January 24, 2022

All Patient Guides are the property of the Endocrine Society. All Endocrine Society materials are protected by copyright an
all rights are reserved. Individual or personal use only of the Patient Guides is allowed without permission from the
Endocrine Society. To license this content: licensing@endocrine.org

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