Together with insulin, glucagon keeps the blood glucose levels of healthy individuals stable within a narrow range. When blood glucose levels go down, glucagon secretion goes up[1] to increase blood glucose levels. As such, both pancreatic hormones are intimately linked, and the levels of one control the levels of the other directly[2]. Therefore, it seems plausible that there might also be a dysregulation in glucagon in people with type 1 diabetes. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that suggests glucagon secretion is dysregulated in type 1 diabetes and contributes[3] to both hypo- and hyperglycemia. Hence, current therapeutic efforts[4] include treating both glucagon and insulin alterations for better glycemic control.
References
- ^Taborsky GJ JrThe physiology of glucagonJ Diabetes Sci Technol.(2010 Nov 1)
- ^Farhy LS, McCall ALOptimizing reduction in basal hyperglucagonaemia to repair defective glucagon counterregulation in insulin deficiencyDiabetes Obes Metab.(2011 Oct)
- ^Cryer PEMinireview: Glucagon in the pathogenesis of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetesEndocrinology.(2012 Mar)
- ^Farhy LS, McCall ALGlucagon - the new 'insulin' in the pathophysiology of diabetesCurr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care.(2015 Jul)