Question

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are characterized by hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose) due to lack of insulin signaling. Explain how the liver contributes to hyperglycemia in Diabetes?

Answer 1

Lack of insulin results in unopposed action of the glucagon hormone. Glucagon stimulate the liver to produce more glucose by causing increase Glycogenolysis which is the increase breakdown of glycogen to produce glucose and gluconeogenesis which involves the increase production of the glucose from other molecules such as from amino acids. This leads to the increase in blood glucose level leading to the hyperglycemia in diabetes.

Also lack of insulin signalling results in inhibition of glycogenesis which is the formation of glycogen from the glucose.