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Multiple Choice

Which hormone raises blood glucose levels by increasing gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources)?

When blood glucose falls, the body pushes the liver to make glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and the hormone that does this most directly is glucagon. Released by pancreatic alpha cells in response to low glucose, glucagon binds receptors on liver cells and raises cyclic AMP, activating pathways that increase gluconeogenesis. It also promotes glycogen breakdown, together boosting hepatic glucose output and raising blood glucose. Insulin does the opposite, promoting glucose uptake and inhibiting glucose production. Thyroxine mainly ramps up overall metabolism rather than directly driving gluconeogenesis, while cortisol can enhance gluconeogenesis under stress, the rapid, direct driver in the fasting state is glucagon.

When blood glucose falls, the body pushes the liver to make glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and the hormone that does this most directly is glucagon. Released by pancreatic alpha cells in response to low glucose, glucagon binds receptors on liver cells and raises cyclic AMP, activating pathways that increase gluconeogenesis. It also promotes glycogen breakdown, together boosting hepatic glucose output and raising blood glucose. Insulin does the opposite, promoting glucose uptake and inhibiting glucose production. Thyroxine mainly ramps up overall metabolism rather than directly driving gluconeogenesis, while cortisol can enhance gluconeogenesis under stress, the rapid, direct driver in the fasting state is glucagon.