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Normal Glucose Homeostasis

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Principles of Diabetes Mellitus

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Abstract

Plasma glucose values are normally maintained within a relatively narrow range throughout the day (70–170 mg/dl) despite wide fluctuations in the delivery (e.g. meals) and removal (e.g. exercise) of glucose from the circulation. Teleologically, this is consistent with the fact that hyperglycemia is to be avoided because of its potential to cause macro- and microvascular complications.1,2 Conversely, this is also consistent with the fact that hypoglycemia is to be avoided because it can injure the brain. Limitations in the availability of alternate fuels (e.g. ketone bodies) or in their transport across the blood brain barrier (e.g. free fatty acids [FFA]) make glucose the usual source of energy for the brain. After prolonged fasting, however, because of an increase in their circulating concentration, ketone bodies may be used by the brain.3

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Authors
  1. John E. Gerich
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  2. Steven D. Wittlin
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  3. Christian Meyer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    Leonid Poretsky M.D. (Chief, Professor of Medicine) (Chief, Professor of Medicine)

  2. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Leonid Poretsky M.D. (Chief, Professor of Medicine) (Chief, Professor of Medicine)

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Gerich, J.E., Wittlin, S.D., Meyer, C. (2004). Normal Glucose Homeostasis. In: Poretsky, L. (eds) Principles of Diabetes Mellitus. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6260-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6260-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-6262-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-6260-0

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