When there is excess glucose in the blood, insulin promotes glucose uptake mainly by the liver, adipose, and skeletal tissues. When there is low glucose in the blood, glucagon promotes release of glucose into the bloodstream, which will then be used by the cells for energy (e.g. skeletal tissue). So, in this case, both insulin and glucagon will both lead to glucose uptake in the skeletal cell? Or does insulin promote storage of glucose within the skeletal cell, which then gets released into the bloodstream by glucagon, but re-enters the skeletal cell for energy consumption?? Tried searching online for references, but couldn’t find the answer. Your insights will be much appreciated!
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Glucagon’s job is just to increase blood glucose so the brain can get it. It’s primary mechanism is glycogenolysis in the liver. It does not promote glucose entry into muscles. In fact, it causes muscles to break down glycogen too. Unless you’re a type 1 diabetic who is not on insulin, there is never a situation where there is zero insulin, so even when glucagon is present, that insulin in the background is still doing its job pushing glucose into cells. It’s competing with glucagon, but both processes are still happening, just the net effect is increasing blood glucose.
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