Overview of glucose regulation

Glucose homeokinesis is a remarkable process that provides glucose to tile body for energy and a constant source of glucose to the brain while prevent ing hyperglycemia. The latter leads to excessive glycosylation of proteins, changing their structure and function and eventually affecting every organ system in the body. Despite a variable diet of feast and famine throughout the day, the body maintains strict blood glucose levels through a remarkab le network between the pancreas, liver, adipose tissue, muscle, and brain. These interactions and both glucose production and utilization are discusse d. Glucose production is governed by the liver, which can generate free glu cose from hepatic glycogen stores and de novo through gluconeogenesis. Spec ific glucose transporters found on every cell of the body administer glucos e utilization. Each transporter works with a different serum glucose level. The mechanism of these transporters and the specific glucose cycles are di scussed, The purpose of this article is to review glucose regulation; it se rves as a reference for the other presentations of this symposium.