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Why doesn't decreased insulin secretion during stress cause problems?

During fight-or-flight situations, alpha 2 receptors ( which are inhibitory receptors ) of the pancreatic beta cells are stimulated, and as a result there's decreased insulin production. While it benefits the body by producing increased blood sugar level, I don't understand why Insulin doesn't cause some problems. Such as, since insulin increases glucose intake by the muscle tissues ( skeletal muscles are supposed to be used more in flight-or-fight situations ) and increases glycolysis ( which produces energy ), wouldn't decreased insulin release during flight-or-fight situations cause less glucose intake and less glycolysis ( as a result less energy production ) by the muscle tissues? And wouldn't less energy produced by the muscle tissues cause them work less efficiently?
(edited 10 years ago)
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Reply 2
Original post by MedQ
During fight-or-flight situations, alpha 2 receptors ( which are inhibitory receptors ) of the pancreatic beta cells are stimulated, and as a result there's decreased insulin production. While it benefits the body by producing increased blood sugar level, I don't understand why Insulin doesn't cause some problems. Such as, since insulin increases glucose intake by the muscle tissues ( skeletal muscles are supposed to be used more in flight-or-fight situations ) and increases glycolysis ( which produces energy ), wouldn't decreased insulin release during flight-or-fight situations cause less glucose intake and less glycolysis ( as a result less energy production ) by the muscle tissues? And wouldn't less energy produced by the muscle tissues cause them work less efficiently?




Insulin activates enzymes such as glycogen synthase (by kinase mechanisms). Thus, it causes an increase in STORED glucose within a cell, in the form of glycogen.
Glycolysis is active at higher levels due to insulin (as said by OP, although i cant remember if this is the case) because this causes EXCESS CIRCULATING GLUCOSE to be used up, decreasing circulating levels - preventing hyperglycaemia.

Does this clarify sufficiently, MedQ?


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(edited 10 years ago)

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