Final answer:
The statement that hormones of pregnancy work against insulin is true. Pregnancy-related hormones can lead to insulin resistance, which can sometimes result in gestational diabetes due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that hormones of pregnancy work against insulin is true. During pregnancy, there are several hormones produced that can have insulin-resistant effects, which means they can interfere with the action of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose by cells, encouraging the liver to store glucose as glycogen, and inhibiting the breakdown of stored glucose. However, during pregnancy, hormones such as human placental lactogen (hPL), estrogen, and cortisol increase which can lead to gestational diabetes in some women because their bodies cannot produce or use enough insulin to transport glucose into their cells.
Regarding the provided reference information, there are some inaccuracies to address:
- The release of insulin is not directly stimulated by the fetus pushing against the uterine wall, but rather is regulated by blood glucose levels through a negative feedback mechanism.
- The immune system attacking the pituitary gland or hypothalamus would not typically prevent insulin production as insulin is produced by the pancreas. However, autoimmune reactions against the pancreas can occur in type 1 diabetes.
- Glucagon is indeed a hormone that works in opposition to insulin by raising blood glucose levels, especially when blood sugar is too low.