ABSTRACT
In health, blood glucose concentration is closely regulated. Since low blood sugar is life-threatening, it is not surprising that there are numerous mechanisms to prevent hypoglycemia (1). There are fewer systems in place to prevent hyperglycemia, explaining the relatively high frequency of the clinical syndrome of diabetes mellitus. In this chapter we first review the metabolic pathways that regulate glucose metabolism. We then review the regulation of insulin secretion and, finally, examine how these processes are coordinated to maintain blood glucose concentration in the fasting and fed states.
