Final answer:
A rise in blood sugar levels causes the pancreas to release insulin, which regulates glucose levels in the blood. Persistent high blood glucose can lead to complications such as insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Glucagon counteracts low blood glucose by raising levels through processes like glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists have established that anything that causes a rise in our blood sugar levels, such as above 180-360 mg/100 ml, results in a physiological response where the pancreas releases the hormone insulin. This release of insulin is a critical part of our body’s regulatory mechanism to control glucose levels in the blood. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose by cells for energy and storage, thus lowering blood glucose levels. However, in conditions like type 2 diabetes, there is a development of hormone resistance where body cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, leading to high blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia.
Continuous high blood glucose can lead to serious health consequences like glycosylation, which harms blood vessels and may cause a condition known as atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis. In addition to insulin, the hormone glucagon plays a role in glucose regulation by raising blood glucose levels when they drop too low, through mechanisms like glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.