Which hormone increases blood glucose levels and is not a sex hormone?

Which hormone increases blood glucose levels and is not a sex hormone?

• A. Estrogen
• B. Glucagon
• C. Insulin
• D. Testosterone

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how the body regulates blood glucose with hormones. Glucagon raises blood glucose by signaling the liver to break down glycogen and to make new glucose, especially when glucose is low. It’s released by the pancreatic alpha cells and acts to restore blood sugar to normal levels. It isn’t a sex hormone—sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone control reproductive development and traits, not glucose balance. Insulin, on the other hand, lowers blood glucose by helping cells take up glucose from the blood, so it wouldn’t increase blood glucose. So the hormone that increases blood glucose and isn’t a sex hormone is glucagon.

The main idea is how the body regulates blood glucose with hormones. Glucagon raises blood glucose by signaling the liver to break down glycogen and to make new glucose, especially when glucose is low. It’s released by the pancreatic alpha cells and acts to restore blood sugar to normal levels. It isn’t a sex hormone—sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone control reproductive development and traits, not glucose balance. Insulin, on the other hand, lowers blood glucose by helping cells take up glucose from the blood, so it wouldn’t increase blood glucose. So the hormone that increases blood glucose and isn’t a sex hormone is glucagon.