Hormones

Hormones are chemicals that act as "messengers" in the body, carrying information and instructions from one group of cells to another.

Hormones that are important to understanding diabetes include:


 * Glucagon -- released by the Alpha cells in the pancreas; tells the liver to increase blood glucose levels.
 * Insulin -- released by the Beta cells in the pancreas; allows glucose to enter muscle and fat cells to use as energy or to store as glycogen for later use.