Researchers from Vanderbilt University in the United States have revealed a mechanism that may explain why the body's response to meals varies throughout the day.
They explained that what happens in the body after breakfast may affect how the liver processes sugar hours later, which could help explain why blood sugar levels rise in people with diabetes. (After eating, insulin and glucagon levels change to help regulate blood sugar.)
The researchers found that the hormone glucagon, which helps the body raise blood sugar levels when needed, can continue to affect liver function even several hours after its level has risen.
The liver is one of the most important organs responsible for regulating blood sugar, as it stores a portion of glucose after eating, and then releases it into the bloodstream when the body needs energy.
This process is regulated by several hormones, most notably insulin and glucagon. When blood sugar rises after eating, insulin helps the liver store glucose, while glucagon stimulates the liver to release it into the bloodstream.
The new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, focused on what is known as the "second meal effect," a term that describes the effect of the first meal on the body's response to the meal that follows.
The researchers wanted to find out if glucagon, which rises in the morning, could affect how the liver processes food hours later.
The results showed that the morning surge in glucagon may make the liver less able to store sugar when the next meal is consumed. Instead of storing it, the liver continues to release some of the glucose into the bloodstream.
The researchers linked this result to a decrease in the level of an enzyme called "glucokinase," which helps the liver capture and store glucose.
The study indicates that the effect of glucagon does not end once its level in the blood decreases, but can continue for a period of time and affect the way the body deals with food later on.
These findings may help to understand why some people with diabetes have elevated blood sugar levels during the day, even though their blood sugar levels may appear normal in the morning.
It can also contribute to the development of treatment methods that take into account the role of glucagon alongside insulin, rather than focusing on insulin alone.
The team hopes this work will help in better understanding how the body regulates blood sugar levels, and what happens to this process in people with diabetes and metabolic disorders.
what is your opinion on this news ?do let us know in the comments on tha comment box
if you liked this news article please share on friends & family & don't forget to follow on website & social media
