Final answer:
When dietary sugar is low, the liver converts glycogen into glucose and, if necessary, performs gluconeogenesis to produce glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, maintaining the body's blood sugar levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
When your body is not getting enough dietary sugar, the liver starts a process to regulate blood sugar levels. Initially, it converts stored glycogen back into glucose and releases it into the bloodstream. If dietary glucose is still insufficient and glycogen stores are depleted, the liver engages in gluconeogenesis, a metabolic pathway that creates glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates, such as amino acids and glycerol.
This helps maintain blood glucose levels within a normal range, crucial for proper body function. Homeostatic balance is maintained by hormones such as insulin, which promotes glucose uptake, and glucagon, which stimulates glucose production in the liver during fasting states.