away from the blood and glucagon brings it out from the stores into the blood. Thus insulin reduces the blood glucose levels and glucagon increases it. Glucagon has other friends who assist in increasing the glucose levels during stress. These are also hormones produced from other endocrine glands and released into the blood stream to aid glucagon in increasing blood glucose levels. These are epinephrine, nor-epinephrine and cortisol produced in adrenal gland, growth hormone from the pituitary and thyroxine from thyroid gland. These help glucagon in bringing about a quick surge in blood glucose levels. The purpose is to provide for the extra demand by the cells all over the body that need to function at a heightened level of activity to cope up with the demanding situation.

Pancreas

Both insulin and glucagon are produced in the body by a gland called pancreas. This is situated below and behind the stomach. In an adult the pancreas weighs three to four ounces. About five percent of the pancreas is made up of approximately one million tiny islands of tissue called the Islets of Langerhans. The islets are named after a German physician Paul Langerhans who discovered them in 1869. Each of these islands of tissues contain different types of cells. One type called beta cells, manufacture and store insulin and release it into the blood stream as needed. Insulin produced by the beta cells in the pancreas makes it possible for the cells of your body to change food into energy or to store it for future use. Another type of cells called alpha cells also found within these islets produce the glucagon responsible for increasing the blood glucose levels.