Introduction

• For your body to survive, it must constantly receive energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To create ATP, the body needs adequate levels of a substance called glucose. Since the amount of energy you need varies depending on the activity being performed, the amount of glucose needed throughout the day must also vary. Too much or too little glucose can be dangerous to the body, which is why a system of glucose regulation is in place to keep glucose levels precisely at the needed amounts for the body to obtain homeostasis.
  
  

Pancreas

• Blood glucose regulation starts with the pancreas. The pancreas is an integral part of this process because of its ability to produce two different types of hormones called insulin and glucagon. When glucose levels get too high, the body activates the pancreas to produce more insulin. When glucose levels are too low, the body activates the pancreas to produce more glucagon.
  
  

Liver

• The hormones produced and released by the pancreas target another organ, your liver. The liver acts as a storage system in the body and stores glucose in the form of glycogen. When glucose levels in your bloodstream become too high in the blood stream, insulin enters the liver and causes the body to transform glucose into glycogen, which can be stored in the liver for later use. When glucose levels in the bloodstream get too low, glucagon enters the liver, which causes glycogen to be transformed back into glucose and released back into the bloodstream.
  
  

Diabetes

• Though the body is usually quite good at regulating blood glucose levels, some diseases can throw this ability off. For example, diabetes is a common disorder that affects the body's ability to produce insulin. Without insulin, the liver cannot convert glucose back into glycogen for storage. This results in continuous high levels of glucose in the bloodstream, which over time can damage the blood vessels of the body. To combat this, many diabetics need to take insulin shots to provide the needed insulin to promote glucose storage.