Glucagon

At a glance

Glucagon helps keep blood glucose stable when you don’t eat or need more energy
Insulin directs storage, glucagon directs making fuel available
The liver is glucagon’s main target organ
In metabolic dysfunction, the balance becomes disrupted, with the liver as the key node
With TCD, the hormonal context often shifts in a favorable direction

What is glucagon?

Glucagon is a peptide hormone produced by the alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The pancreas also produces insulin, but in different cells (beta cells). Both hormones are thus made in the same organ and function as each other’s counterpart.

Why does the body need glucagon?

The body wants to keep blood glucose within safe limits. This is important for the brain, red blood cells, and certain parts of the kidneys, among others.

Situation	Insulin	Glucagon
When eating (especially carbohydrates)	Rises	Is suppressed
Not eating / fewer carbohydrates	Falls	Rises

In practice, it’s mainly about the balance between both hormones: the insulin-glucagon ratio.

When does glucagon typically rise?

Glucagon rises mainly in situations where the body needs to provide its own fuel:

Between meals and at night
During fasting
With low-carbohydrate nutrition or TCD
During exercise
When hypoglycemia threatens

This rise is usually a normal, protective response.

What exactly does glucagon do?

Glucagon’s main target is the liver. Glucagon helps the liver to:

Break down glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis)
Make new glucose (gluconeogenesis)
Steer metabolism more toward fat burning
Under the right conditions, produce ketones

Glucagon and ketones

Ketones (such as beta-hydroxybutyrate) are produced mainly when:

Insulin is low
Carbohydrates are low
The liver burns relatively more fatty acids

Low insulin is usually the most important condition. Glucagon supports the direction, but if insulin remains high, ketones and fat burning are often suppressed.

Glucagon in metabolic dysfunction

In metabolic dysfunction (such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver), regulation can go awry:

Insulin can be chronically elevated (hyperinsulinemia)
Glucagon may not be adequately suppressed (relatively too much glucagon signal)
The liver then continues producing glucose while there’s already plenty circulating

This can contribute to elevated fasting glucose and sometimes difficult-to-control blood glucose levels.

What usually happens with TCD?

With therapeutic carbohydrate restriction (TCD), the hormonal context often shifts as follows:

Insulin falls
The insulin-glucagon ratio falls
The body gains easier access to stored fuel
The liver shifts relatively more toward fat burning and, with sufficient restriction and time, ketone production

Common misconceptions

Misconception	Reality
”Glucagon is a stress hormone”	Its function is primarily metabolic: it prevents low glucose and supports fuel availability
”If glucagon rises, that’s unhealthy”	A temporary rise during fasting or TCD is part of normal physiology. Chronic dysregulation mainly occurs with metabolic dysfunction

Practical considerations

Don’t focus on one hormone - Focus on the whole: nutrition, sleep, stress regulation, exercise, and recovery
With TCD, the goal is usually: reduce insulin load, improve liver regulation, and regain metabolic flexibility

Veelgestelde vragen

What is glucagon?

Glucagon is a peptide hormone produced by the alpha cells in the pancreas. It works as the counterpart to insulin: insulin directs storage, glucagon directs the release of fuel. In practice, it's mainly about the balance between both hormones (the insulin-glucagon ratio).

When does glucagon rise?

Glucagon rises mainly in situations where the body needs to provide its own fuel: between meals, at night, during fasting, with low-carbohydrate nutrition or TCD, during exercise, and when hypoglycemia threatens. This rise is usually a normal, protective response.

Is glucagon a stress hormone?

No. Glucagon can rise during fasting or exercise, but its function is primarily metabolic: it prevents low glucose and supports fuel availability. It's not a stress hormone like cortisol or adrenaline.

Is it unhealthy when glucagon rises?

A temporary rise during fasting or TCD is part of normal physiology. Chronic dysregulation mainly occurs with metabolic dysfunction, when the system as a whole is disrupted - not because glucagon itself is bad.

What is the relationship between glucagon and ketones?

Ketones are produced mainly when insulin is low, carbohydrates are low, and the liver burns more fatty acids. Low insulin is the most important condition. Glucagon supports the direction, but if insulin remains high, ketones and fat burning are often suppressed.

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