Glucose Counterregulatory Responses to Hypoglycemia

Overview

Journal Pediatr Endocrinol Rev

Specialties Endocrinology
Pediatrics

Date 2012 Jul 13

PMID 22783644

Citations 85

Authors

Jennifer E Sprague

Ana Maria Arbelaez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose for fuel. Therefore, adequate uptake of glucose from the plasma is key for normal brain function and survival. Despite wide variations in glucose flux (i.e., fed state, fasting state, etc), blood glucose is maintained in a very narrow range. This is accomplished by a series of hormonal and physiologic responses. As a result, hypoglycemia is a rare occurrence in normal individuals. However, glucose counterregulatory responses are altered in patients with diabetes treated with insulin especially after repeated hypoglycemia or antecedent exercise.

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