Maintaining Blood Glucose level by Gluconeogenesis

Our body requires Glucose , which acts as fuel for our body . Normally our blood contains 60-150 mg/dL glucose .Normally carbohydrates are the source of glucose in our body This level of glucose is constant and is necessary for body's normal functioning , it is converted to energy by a variety of steps
           
          GLUCOSE-----> GLYCOLYSIS------> KREBS CYCLE----> ETC-------> ATP(ENERGY)

Generally there are two states in our body

  • Fed State
  • Fasted state
Fed state is usually the state , after you have taken a meal i.e you have taken a piece of cake . The body will use it to make glucose .It is then directly used to maintain the blood glucose level.
During the fasted state you haven't eaten anything for a few hours ad body will have to pump glucose into the blood to maintain normal levels of glucose . During this state body will have to make glucose from following steps

  1. Convert Glycogen to Glucose
  2. Gluconeogenesis
Glycogen is a preserved state of glucose which is formed by liver during FED stage . So body will convert it to glucose to maintain normal Blood glucose level . But after 10-18 hours , body will probably run out of glycogen .So mechanism of Gluconeogenesis will take place

GLUCONEOGENESIS
It is conversion of non carbohydrates such as amino acids , lactate into Glucose . To maintain normal blood glucose level. It is actually the reverse process of Glycolysis
                                 
                                             Amino Acid or lactate --------------> Glucose

Gluconeogenesis is generally a mechanism used by our brain , eyes and kidneys to form glucose . But in the deficiency of carbohydrates , or by consuming excess protein  our liver can convert these substances to generate the glucose in our body .

IS GLUCONEOGENESIS HARMFUL?
The answer is generally "no" . But some people who generally take low carbs believe so . It is a mechanism that may be used to protect your body in case of low glucose  . But those people who are working out in GYM may need to take normal amount to protein in diet , otherwise body mass (amino acids from body) may also be generated to form glucose . So protein intake must be in normal amounts

CACHEXIA
When gluconeogenesis occurs chronically , like it might occur in starvation , muscle wasting can occur , which is called cachexia . It will consume the muscles of body to generate glucose

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