Not Medical Advice: Insulin and glucagon are hormones secreted by the pancreas but they are made from different types of cells in the pancreas.
Insulin is a protein-based hormone that is secreted by the beta cells inside the pancreas whenever the pancreas senses that the blood sugar is too high.
In contrast to insulin, glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreas. Glucagon is secreted when the blood glucose levels are found to be too low. This is usually when you are fasting, when you exercise, and between meals after insulin has reduced the blood sugar levels.
Each of us has insulin and glucagon in our systems because it is a strict requirement that the blood sugar level in the body is kept in a narrow therapeutic range. You need both insulin and glucagon to respond to various levels of glucose in the bloodstream. They maintain homeostasis in the body and keeps the blood sugar stable at all times.
If your blood sugar number is creeping up, try these science-backed diet, exercise, and wellness tweaks from Reader's Digest. They can help you return it to a healthier level.