MECHANISMS TO PREVENT HYPO’S IN THE NON-DIABETIC STATE
- Function of various glucosensors which are able to ‘measure’ the blood glucose levels
- Stimulation of appetite and food-seeking behaviour to encourage food intake
- Ability to release glucose from stores,especially hepatic
glycogen, which can be used even in absence of food intake
- Regulation of insulin secretion so that during fasting,secretion is quickly reduced with a falling blood glucose level
- Ability of the body to use alternate energy stores, especially
fat, thereby conserve glucose levels
- Use of alternate energy substrates(ketone bodies, free fatty
acids,and to a lesser extent, lactate, glycerol and amino
acids)
- Conversion of some amino acids into new glucose by process
of gluconeogenesis
- Shift of metabolic processes from glucose as energy source
to free fatty acids and ketone acids for energy
