How does the liver maintain blood glucose levels?
The liver contains the enzymes necessary for gluconeogenesis, which means it can convert proteins and odd-chain fatty acids to glucose for export to other organs/cells that can only use glucose (or preferentially use glucose). The kidney can also do this to some extent, but by far, the liver does the bulk of the duty. The liver also has significant stores of glycogen, which it can release into circulation as a quick way to maintain glucose levels (in the short term). Edit: To the first answerer – insulin is produced in the beta cells in the islets (of Langerhans) in the pancreas, NOT the liver. The liver responds to insulin by taking up and storing glucose (as glycogen), and releasing stored glucose in response to glucagon (also produced in the pancreatic islets, by alpha cells), but does not produce either hormone.
