Glucose Levels – The Effects Of Other Hormones
Living with diabetes is hard work. Understanding the changes in your blood glucose level can be frustrating and can lead to burnout. Here’s some information that is not often discussed when the subject of blood glucose level is raised with health care professionals. There are other hormones other than insulin that affect the blood sugar levels in your body. To help you understand your blood glucose level it is important to know about glucagon, amylin, GIP, GLP-1, epinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone. Glucagon The effects of glucagon are the opposite of the effects induced by insulin. The two hormones need to work in partnership with each other to keep blood glucose levels balanced. Made by islet cells (alpha cells) in the pancreas, glucagon controls the production of glucose and another fuel, ketones, in the liver. Glucagon is released overnight and between meals and is important in maintaining the body’s glucose and fuel balance. It signals the liver to break down its starch or glycogen stores and helps to form new glucose units and ketone units from other substances. It also promotes the breakdown of fat in fat cells. In contrast, after a meal, when glucose from the ingested food rushes into your bloodstream, your liver doesn’t need to make glucose. The consequence? Glucagon levels fall. In people living with diabetes the opposite occurs – while eating their glucagon levels rise, which causes the blood glucose level to rise after a meal. More about glucagon here GLP-1 & GIP GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and amylin are other hormones that also regulate mealtime insulin. GLP-1 and GIP are incretin hormones. When released from your gut, they signal the beta cells to increase their insulin secretion and, a Continue reading >>
In The Spotlight: How Teen Hormones Affect Blood Sugar
Shortly after her son Alex turned 13, north Texas mom Tracie noticed a change in his blood sugar control. His numbers were running slightly high … almost all the time. “Because he was diagnosed at age 5, knowing when to test and how to cover carbs [with insulin] were both pretty old-hat by the time Alex became a teen. When he started coming up with these high readings all the time, I just couldn’t figure it out,” she remembers. To get to the bottom of this trend, Tracie questioned her son about things like “sneaking” extra food when out with friends and being careless with entering information into his pump. It only made things worse. “First came the highs, and then — on my part — came the nagging. Was he eating too much with his friends without bolusing for it or being careless and not testing after eating? Was he depressed? Something was definitely up, but the more I got on him about it, the more he withdrew.” At her son’s next endocrinologist appointment, Tracie finally got an explanation. Turns out, it wasn’t too much soda or lack of testing that was the main contributor to her son’s high numbers. It was his hormones. Not Just Those Hormones Beyond the behavioral issues that often crop up at this age, it can be a surprise to parents and caregivers to find out just how much fluctuating hormone levels during puberty affect blood sugar control. The biggest culprit? According to Melinda Penn, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric endocrinology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., “Growth hormone seems to be the hormone that has the greatest impact on blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity during puberty.” Human growth hormone, which surges during adolescent growth spurts, can decrease how efficiently the body uses ins Continue reading >>
Low Blood Glucose Levels And Other Complications During Growth Hormone Supplementation In Sepsis
Joel Faintuch, Renata B. A. Leme, Maria Emilia L. F. Cruz, Angela M. B. Lima, Daniel Giannella Neto and Joaquim J.Gama-Rodrigues RHCFAP/2978 FAINTUCH, J. et al. - Low blood glucose levels and other complications during growth hormone supplementation in sepsis. Rev. Hosp. Clín. Fac. Med. S. Paulo 54 (4): 135 - 138, 1999. SUMMARY: Blood glucose levels in the high normal range or even moderate hyperglycemia is the expected profile in septic postoperative patients receiving high-calorie enteral alimentation. The addition of growth hormone as an anabolic agent should additionally reinforce this tendency. In a cancer patient undergoing partial gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy and suffering from postoperative subphrenic abscess and prolonged sepsis, tube feeding (38.3 kcal/kg/day) and growth hormone (0.17 IU/kg/day) were simultaneously administered for 25 days. Blood glucose levels were in the lower limits of the normal range before growth hormone introduction, and continued with a similar tendency during most of the therapeutic period. Two additional complications, namely heart arrest and peripheral edema, were documented during the same period. It is concluded that sepsis was the most likely mechanism for low glucose values, and that high-calorie enteral diet and growth hormone supplementation did not prevent that result. It is uncertain whether heart arrest was due to the drug, but its association with peripheral edema is well documented in clinical series. DESCRIPTORS: Growth Hormone. Enteral Nutrition. Hypoglycemia. Sepsis. Peripheral Edema. Malnourished cancer patients in the perioperative period are at high risk for septic complications3. Nutritional support, preferably via the enteral route12, is an accepted modality for accelerating recovery and inhibiting infectious Continue reading >>
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- Assistance dog Molly trained to detect when twins' glucose levels become unstable during class
Gestational Diabetes
What Is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes sometimes develops when a woman is pregnant. It’s when the blood glucose level (blood sugar level) of the mother goes too high during pregnancy. Having an elevated blood glucose level during pregnancy can cause problems for your baby—if it’s left untreated. Fortunately, doctors are vigilant about checking for gestational diabetes so that it can be identified and effectively managed. A pro-active treatment plan helps you have a good pregnancy and protects the health of your baby. Gestational Diabetes Symptoms Gestational diabetes doesn’t often cause noticeable symptoms for the mother. Other types of diabetes (eg, type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes) do cause symptoms such as increased thirst, but that is hardly ever noticed in gestational diabetes. Because there aren’t often symptoms, it’s very important to be tested for a high blood glucose level when you’re pregnant. (Your doctor will most likely test you for gestational diabetes sometime between the 24th and 28th week. You can learn more about the diagnostic process here.) Then your doctor will know if you need to be treated for gestational diabetes. Gestational Diabetes Causes and Risk Factors Gestational diabetes develops when your body isn’t able to produce enough of the hormone insulin during pregnancy. Insulin is necessary to transport glucose—what your body uses for energy—into the cells. Without enough insulin, you can build up too much glucose in your blood, leading to a higher-than-normal blood glucose level and perhaps gestational diabetes. The elevated blood glucose level in gestational diabetes is caused by hormones released by the placenta during pregnancy. The placenta produces a hormone called the human placental lactogen (HPL), also Continue reading >>
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- Gestational Diabetes: The Overlooked Form of Diabetes
Growth Hormone (somatotropin)
Growth hormone is a protein hormone of about 190 amino acids that is synthesized and secreted by cells called somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary. It is a major participant in control of several complex physiologic processes, including growth and metabolism. Growth hormone is also of considerable interest as a drug used in both humans and animals. Physiologic Effects of Growth Hormone A critical concept in understanding growth hormone activity is that it has two distinct types of effects: Direct effects are the result of growth hormone binding its receptor on target cells. Fat cells (adipocytes), for example, have growth hormone receptors, and growth hormone stimulates them to break down triglyceride and supresses their ability to take up and accumulate circulating lipids. Indirect effects are mediated primarily by a insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), a hormone that is secreted from the liver and other tissues in response to growth hormone. A majority of the growth promoting effects of growth hormone is actually due to IGF-I acting on its target cells. Keeping this distinction in mind, we can discuss two major roles of growth hormone and its minion IGF-I in physiology. Effects on Growth Growth is a very complex process, and requires the coordinated action of several hormones. The major role of growth hormone in stimulating body growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete IGF-I. IGF-I stimulates proliferation of chondrocytes (cartilage cells), resulting in bone growth. Growth hormone does seem to have a direct effect on bone growth in stimulating differentiation of chondrocytes. IGF-I also appears to be the key player in muscle growth. It stimulates both the differentiation and proliferation of myoblasts. It also stimulates amino acid uptake and p Continue reading >>
Human Growth Hormone And Insulin Are Friends
Hormone balance, and the cycle by which our hormones are regulated, is very complicated. That’s why we have doctors who specialize in endocrinology. This article is intended as a basic explanation of the function of a few hormones and their interactions within the human body, as well as how nutrition/exercise affect their production and utilization. That said, hormone manipulation through diet and exercise does NOT account for a great deal of your results – you should focus on getting better at exercise, eating enough, and recovering properly before you lose sleep over whether or not you have optimal HGH or insulin levels. Insulin vs. HGH I’ll get down to brass tacks and make myself clear: insulin and growth hormone play antagonist roles against one another. When one is elevated, the other will be low. That does not, however, mean that their functions are all that dissimilar; they’re both responsible for growth in different ways and looking at them as synergists is much more productive. We want to find a way to make the best of insulin’s ability to pull nutrients into cells, but we also want to elicit the muscular, skeletal and neurological growth that (as the name implies) growth hormone is responsible for. Intraday nutrient cycling is the best way to do this. Understanding why is complicated as all heck, but we’ve tried to make it easy to digest (Get it? Digest? Haha?) Before we continue, I am going to ask that you take a look at our articles on insulin and leptin, as well as the sleep tutorial. They’ll help you understand some of the terms in this section and get a better idea of what’s really going on behind the scenes. Growth Hormone and IGF-1 Growth Hormone (GH) is a hormone responsible for cellular growth in the human body. Throughout the day, GH Continue reading >>
Growth Hormone
"HGH" redirects here. For other uses, see HGH (disambiguation). Growth hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin (or as human growth hormone [hGH or HGH] in its human form), is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals. It is thus important in human development. It is a type of mitogen which is specific only to certain kinds of cells. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored and secreted by somatotropic cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland. GH is a stress hormone that raises the concentration of glucose and free fatty acids.[1][2] It also stimulates production of IGF-1. A recombinant form of hGH called somatropin (INN) is used as a prescription drug to treat children's growth disorders and adult growth hormone deficiency. In the United States, it is only available legally from pharmacies, by prescription from a doctor. In recent years in the United States, some doctors have started to prescribe growth hormone in GH-deficient older patients (but not on healthy people) to increase vitality. While legal, the efficacy and safety of this use for HGH has not been tested in a clinical trial. At this time, HGH is still considered a very complex hormone, and many of its functions are still unknown.[3] In its role as an anabolic agent, HGH has been used by competitors in sports since at least 1982, and has been banned by the IOC and NCAA. Traditional urine analysis does not detect doping with HGH, so the ban was unenforceable until the early 2000s, when blood tests that could distinguish between natural and artificial HGH were starting to be developed. Blood tests conducted by WADA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece targeted primar Continue reading >>
Blood Sugar & Other Hormones
Other hormones also affect blood sugar. Glucagon, amylin, GIP, GLP-1, epinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone also affect blood sugar levels. Glucagon: Made by islet cells (alpha cells) in the pancreas, controls the production of glucose and another fuel, ketones, in the liver. Glucagon is released overnight and between meals and is important in maintaining the body’s sugar and fuel balance. It signals the liver to break down its starch or glycogen stores and helps to form new glucose units and ketone units from other substances. It also promotes the breakdown of fat in fat cells. In contrast, after a meal, when sugar from the ingested food rushes into your bloodstream, your liver doesn’t need to make sugar. The consequence? Glucagon levels fall. Unfortunately, in individuals with diabetes, the opposite occurs. While eating, their glucagon levels rise, which causes blood sugar levels to rise after the meal. WITH DIABETES, GLUCAGON LEVELS ARE TOO HIGH AT MEALTIMES GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and amylin: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and amylin are other hormones that also regulate mealtime insulin. GLP-1 and GIP are incretin hormones. When released from your gut, they signal the beta cells to increase their insulin secretion and, at the same time, decrease the alpha cells’ release of glucagon. GLP-1 also slows down the rate at which food empties from your stomach, and it acts on the brain to make you feel full and satisfied. People with type 1 diabetes have absent or malfunctioning beta cells so the hormones insulin and amylin are missing and the hormone GLP1 cannot work properly. This may explain, in part, why individuals with diabetes do not suppress gl Continue reading >>
The Link Between Diabetes And Hormones
Diabetes begins as a metabolic syndrome that features a combination of hormonal and nutritional imbalances. If these imbalances aren’t corrected, a pre-diabetic condition can turn into full-fledged diabetes. These hormonal imbalances can result in an inability for your body to produce the insulin that it needs to convert glucose into energy, a condition that is known as insulin resistance. When this occurs, your blood glucose levels will elevate, and you may experience complications and symptoms of diabetes. Likewise, if you suffer from glucose intolerance you may experience low blood sugar when your body doesn’t have enough glucose to use for fuel. Hormones that Affect Blood Sugar Levels To better understand how hormones affect diabetes, it is important to identify which hormones can impact sugar levels in the blood. Insulin Insulin is a hormone that is released from beta cells in the pancreas, and it allows the body to use glucose for energy. Insulin is important for keeping the blood sugar levels from getting too low or too high. After you eat a meal and the level of your blood sugar rises, beta cells are signaled to release the insulin into the blood. Then, it attaches to the cells to help with the absorption of sugar from the blood. Insulin is often referred to as a “key” that issued to unlock cells to allow sugar to convert so it can be used as energy. Glucagon Produced by the alpha or islet cells of the pancreas, glucagon is used to control glucose and ketone production in the liver. This hormone is released between meals and overnight, and it is essential in maintaining fuel balance and sugar levels in the body. Glucagon will signal the liver when it is time to break down glycogen and starch stores, and it will also help to form new units of ketones and Continue reading >>
Hormones And Their Affect On Type 1 Diabetes Management
For people with Type 1 diabetes, there are certain stages in life that can seem a bit more like a rollercoaster than others. In most cases, these ups and downs can be attributed to a shift in hormones. Major hormonal changes can be due to many things, such as puberty, menopause, menstrual cycle, stress and illness, to name a few. Definitive correlations between hormones and blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivities and other possible Type 1 related side effects have been difficult to pinpoint thus far. Until more studies have been published about hormonal effects on T1D, there are things we can keep in mind based on the type of imbalance hormones can generally cause for T1D management. Growth hormones Both men and women experience puberty, and it can occur anywhere between the ages of 9 and 16. One of the primary hormones that kick in during puberty are growth hormones, and it has been noted by medical professionals that this kind of hormone can create insulin resistance. As a result, insulin requirements are often increased significantly during growth spurts. Other things to keep in mind during puberty that can have an effect on T1D: Behavioral changes / Moodiness Body image issues Increase in appetite Peer pressure Changes in sleep habits More (or less) physical activity Menstruation Women often notice changes in their blood sugar levels depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle. Many women have reported having abnormally high blood sugars the week before starting their period, and lower blood sugars in the few days following starting their period. It is important to note, however, that hormones fluctuate differently for each person – especially considering that women use all different kinds of birth control that can contribute to these fluctuations. Me Continue reading >>
Insulin-like Growth Factor (igf): What You Should Know
What is insulin-like growth factor (IGF)? IGF is a hormone that your body makes naturally. It used to be known as somatomedin. IGF, which comes mainly from the liver, acts a lot like insulin. IGF helps to control growth hormone secretion in the pituitary gland. IGF works with growth hormones to promote growth and development of bone and tissue. These hormones also affect how your body metabolizes sugar, or glucose. IGF and insulin can work together to rapidly reduce the level of glucose in your blood. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. You need insulin to process glucose for energy. Insulin helps to distribute glucose to cells throughout your body while reducing glucose in your blood. Read more: The best diabetes iPhone and Android apps of 2015 » In a 2010 study, lower IGF levels were associated with diabetes. Those findings were for people under age 65 who didn’t have cardiovascular disease. The researchers adjusted for a variety of other factors, including serum cholesterol, lifestyle, and body mass index. Researchers couldn’t make the IGF-diabetes association in people over age 65. Low levels of IGF may be linked to the increased secretion of growth hormones in people with type 1 diabetes. Growth hormone concentrations in people with diabetes are 2 to 3 times higher than in people who don’t have diabetes. Abnormal levels of IGF and growth hormones may also play a role in the complications of diabetes. A link appears to exist between obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk. Some studies indicate a connection between these diseases and higher levels of IGF, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers. A simple blood test can determine how much IGF you have in your blood. Doctors may also order this test w Continue reading >>
How Eating Carbs At Night Affects The Growth Hormone
Growth hormone is a protein hormone involved in several physiological processes such as building muscle and regulating metabolism. Other hormones, such as elevated insulin in response to carbohydrate consumption, can impair its secretion. Since your pituitary gland secretes the majority of growth hormone during deep-stage sleep, eating carbohydrates at night may be particularly detrimental for your growth hormone secretion. This may lead to reductions in muscle building and fat-burning capacity, hindering your athletic progress and leading to unhealthy abdominal fat storage. Video of the Day The anterior pituitary gland in the brain secretes growth hormone in several pulses, about 85 percent of which occur while you are sleeping. This growth hormone helps facilitate tissue repair, increase breakdown of stored fat and maintain blood glucose. Growth hormone secretion is especially prominent in children and adolescents, who are undergoing rapid growth and development, but it decreases thereafter in adulthood. Too much or too little growth hormone can negatively impact your metabolism by disrupting the levels of other hormones and lead to an imbalance between tissue building and breakdown. Carbohydrate Consumption and Insulin Response When you eat food containing carbohydrate, your blood glucose rises. This triggers your pancreas to secrete insulin into the blood, which shuttles the glucose to your body tissues. Insulin also increases fat storage and the building of muscle mass to some extent. Simple carbohydrates—such as white bread, many baked goods and candy—raise blood sugar quickly, resulting in a rapid insulin increase to clear the glucose out of the blood. Complex carbohydrates—such as whole grains and beans—result in a slower rise in blood sugar and a more g Continue reading >>
The Effect Of Human Growth Hormone (hgh)for Diabetics
Many people use HGH (human growth hormone) in anti-aging products to look younger. The reason why this hormone is used for this purpose is because it increases peptide presence in the body, thus enhancing cell growth and reproduction. Although the body produces this hormone naturally, it can also be produced in synthetic forms for treatment of various conditions, which also includes diabetes. HGH is however not recommended nor has it been approved by the FDA, because its benefits to the body are lesser than the damage it can cause if overused or used for a long time. It is however approved for use on children with growth problems, as well as on HIV/AIDS patients suffering from muscle wasting. How is human growth hormone linked with diabetes? The human growth hormone (HGH) can and has been used severally in treatment for diabetes mellitus. Patients suffering from low sugar levels in their bloodstreams can also use this hormone to facilitate energy production. According to medical records, HGH production within the body declines with age, hence the reason why aging persons have a higher risk of contracting diabetes. To counter this, HGH can be induced in the body to help the body regulate blood sugar levels with the blood. Although this may be a solution for diabetes patients, it should only be used in minimal levels, and for a short time. The presence of HGH in the blood stream catalyzes the little insulin in the body, which helps in glucose absorption by body cells. Insulin is a vital hormone in the body, as it helps in breaking down glycogen into glucose, which is needed by body cells to produce energy. Any absence of insulin within the body leads to glucose absorption by fat cells, which leads to obesity and energy deprivation. HGH levels in the levels however determi Continue reading >>
What Is Glucagon?
Blood sugar levels are an important part of overall health. When blood sugar levels drop, an individual may feel lethargic. If they drop too low, the individual may become disoriented, dizzy or even pass out. Blood sugar control involves a complex system of hormones, and one of those hormones is 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. What does glucagon do? Although secreted by the pancreas, glucagon directly impacts the liver as it works to control blood sugar levels. Specifically, glucagon prevents blood glucose levels from dropping to a dangerous point by stimulating the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose in the liver. This glucose can be released into the bloodstream, a process known as glycogenolysis. Secondly, glucagon stops the liver from consuming some glucose. This helps more glucose to enter the bloodstream, rather than being consumed by the liver, to keep levels stable. Finally, glucagon works in a process known as gluconeogenesis, which is the production of glucose in the amino acid molecules. In each of these processes, glucagon and insulin work together. Insulin will prevent glucose levels from increasing to a point that is too high, while glucagon prevents it from dropping too low. Glucagon production is stimulated when an individual eats a protein-rich meal, experiences a surge in adrenaline, or has a low blood sugar event. Potential problems with glucagon function Glucagon function is crucial to proper blood glucose levels, so problems with glucagon production will lead to problems Continue reading >>
- How insulin and glucagon work to regulate blood sugar levels
- Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin stores in the pancreas of subjects with type-2 diabetes and their lean and obese non-diabetic controls
- Effects of Insulin Plus Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) in Treating Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Why Your Diabetic Cat Should Be Tested For Growth Hormone
As a veterinarian, I find diabetes to be both a rewarding and a frustrating condition to treat. Sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is common in cats, and the reward comes from making a real difference to the cat’s health. However, not all cases respond as they should. But why is this? Before we jump ahead to talk about complications, let’s remind ourselves what diabetes is. A diabetic cat has poor control of his blood sugar levels, which runs too high. This is because the hormone that regulates sugar levels, insulin, is either lacking or the body tissues can’t respond to it. High blood sugar levels are toxic, and sugar is expelled in urine. However, this means the body also loses water. The patient drinks excessively to replace it. Insulin Resistance Some cases need almost unimaginably high doses of insulin, and yet the cats’ blood glucose still refuses to come down. Think of insulin as the key to unlock the body’s cells and allow sugar in. When insulin doesn’t work (known as insulin resistance), this is equivalent to having the locks changed so the key no longer fits. We now know that health problems can lead to insulin resistance. Conditions such as gum disease, overactive thyroid glands or even cystitis can “change the lock” so insulin can’t open the cells, which results in poor glucose control. Acromegaly However, this article is about a relatively new condition, acromegaly, which is thought to adversely affect 1 in 3 diabetic cats. Acromegaly is caused by too much growth hormone in the bloodstream. Growth hormone tells tissue to grow, but it also causes insulin resistance. The typical acromegalic cat has a big, chunky face and enormous paws. However, blood tests now reveal that many normal-looking cats have acromegaly — 1 in 3 diabetics — so p Continue reading >>
