title: The physiology and pathophysiology of the neural control of the counterregulatory response.
abstract: Despite significant technological and pharmacological advancements, insulin replacement therapy fails to adequately replicate β-cell function, and so glucose control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is frequently erratic, leading to periods of hypoglycemia. Moreover, the counterregulatory response (CRR) to falling blood glucose is impaired in diabetes, leading to an increased risk of severe hypoglycemia. It is now clear that the brain plays a significant role in the development of defective glucose counterregulation and impaired hypoglycemia awareness in diabetes. In this review, the basic intracellular glucose-sensing mechanisms are discussed, as well as the neural networks that respond to and coordinate the body's response to a hypoglycemic challenge. Subsequently, we discuss how the body responds to repeated hypoglycemia and how these adaptations may explain, at least in part, the development of impaired glucose counterregulation in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute, Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Univ. of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ashford
authors.forename: Rory J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCrimmon
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin