Final answer:
Too much glucose in the blood, known as hyperglycemia, can lead to diabetes and possibly ketoacidosis. Not enough glucose, or hypoglycemia, can cause severe neurological symptoms and is counteracted by the hormone glucagon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regulation of blood glucose is a fundamental aspect of body homeostasis. When there is too much glucose in the blood, a condition known as hyperglycemia occurs, common in diabetes mellitus. In type 2 diabetes, for example, there is hormone resistance where the body cells do not respond adequately to insulin, which means glucose is not taken up by the cells leading to high levels of glucose in the blood.
This condition can result in harmful effects such as the overproduction of ketone bodies, leading to ketoacidosis. Treatment typically involves medication, diet, and potentially the addition of extra insulin. Conversely, when there is not enough glucose in the blood, hypoglycemia ensues.
Symptoms include convulsions, sweating, weakness, tremors, fainting, and even coma or death. The brain is particularly affected by hypoglycemia as it relies exclusively on glucose for energy. To counteract low blood glucose levels, the pancreas secretes glucagon, which stimulates glycogen breakdown and glucose production from other sources, raising the glucose levels to a normal range.