Hormones, counterregulatory

Individuals with type 1 DM are often thin and are prone to develop diabetic ketoacidosis if insulin is withheld or under conditions of severe stress with an excess of insulin counterregulatory hormones. 

Site of synthesis The counterregulatory hormones Glucagon is a polypeptide hormone secreted by the a cells of the pancreatic islets. Glucagon, along with epinephrine, Cortisol, and growth hormone (the "counterregulatory hormones"), opposes many of the actions of insulin. 

Hvidberg A, Christensen NJ, Hilsted J. Counterregulatory hormones in insulin-treated diabetic patients admitted to an accident and emergency department with hypoglycaemia. Diabet Med 1998 15(3) 199-204. 

Growth hormone is one of the glucose counterregulatory hormones. It is released in response to hypoglycemia and has intrinsic hyperglycemic actions and causes insulin resistance. 

Over the first hours of life, however, such infants persist in having higher than normal insulin concentrations and lower than normal glycogen concentrations (Fig. 10-6). In addition, the concentrations of other counterregulatory hormones, such as catecholamines, remain low. This particular hormonal milieu will seriously inhibit glycogenolysis, thereby decreasing the rate of glucose release from the liver. 

The effects of counterregulatory hormones on insulin-induced glucose utilization by individual tissues in rats, using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique combined with an injection of 2-[l-3H]-deoxyglucose, were studied by Marfaing et al. (1991). 

DeFronzo RA, Hendler R, Christensen N. Stimulation of counterregulatory hormonal responses in diabetic man by a fall in glucose concentration. Diabetes 1980 29 125-31. 

Opposing the actions of insulin are the counterregulatory hormones, glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol. In response to low blood glucose, the coxmterregu-latory hormones increase hepatic glucose... 

Endocrinopathies Excessive production of insulin counterregulatory hormones can cause diabetes mellitus. Examples include excessive production of growth hormone (acromegaly), cortisol (Cushing s syndrome), epinephrine (pheochromocytoma), and glucagon (glucago-noma). 

Local ventromedial hypothalamus glucopenia triggers counterregulatory hormone release. Diabetes 44 180-184. 

D. The low body weight and fat mass observed in the patient are consistent with a metabolically fasted state. During such a condition, circulating insulin levels will be low, whereas counterregulatory hormones (e.g., glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol) will be elevated. 

In patients with severe renal failure requiring dialysis, the half-life of the octreotide may be increased, necessitating adjustment of the maintenance dosage. Octreotide acetate therapy is occasionally associated with mild transient hypo- or hyperglycemia due to alterations in the balance between the counterregulatory hormones insuhn, glucagon, and growth hormone. 

During Otto s distance running (a moderate-intensity exercise), decreases in insulin and increases in insulin counterregulatory hormones, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, increase adipose tissue lipolysis. Thus, his muscles are being provided with a supply of fatty acids in the blood that they can use as a fuel. 

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