Hormones that Influence Blood Glucose Levels

[Show Table Outline]

Hormone	Tissue of Origin	Metabolic Effect	Effect on Blood Glucose
Insulin	Pancreatic cells	1. Enhances entry of glucose into cells 2. Enhances storage of glucose as glycogen, or conversion to fatty acids 3. Enhances synthesis of proteins and fatty acids 4. Suppresses breakdown of protein into amino acids; of adipose tissue, into free fatty acids	Lowers
Somatostatin	Pancreatic D cells	1. Suppresses glucagon release from cells (acts locally) 2. Suppresses release of insulin, pituitary tropic hormones, gastrin, and secretin	Lowers
Glucagon	Pancreatic cells	1. Enhances release of glucose from glycogen 2. Enhances synthesis of glucose from amino acids or fatty acids	Raises
Epinephrine	Adrenal medulla	1. Enhances release of glucose from glycogen 2. Enhances release of fatty acids from adipose tissue	Raises
Cortisol	Adrenal cortex	1. Enhances synthesis of glucose from amino acids or fatty acids 2. Antagonizes insulin	Raises
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)	Anterior pituitary	1. Enhances release of cortisol 2. Enhances release of fatty acids from adipose tissue	Raises
Growth hormone	Anterior pituitary	1. Antagonizes insulin	Raises
Thyroxine	Thyroid	1. Enhances release of glucose from glycogen 2. Enhances absorption of sugars from intestine	Raises

From Sacher, RA, and McPherson, RA: Widmann's Clinical Interpretation of Laboratory Tests, ed 11. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 2000, p. 448, with permission.

[Table Outline]

• Insulin
• Somatostatin
• Glucagon
• Epinephrine
• Cortisol
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Growth hormone
• Thyroxine