Which hormone increases blood sugar levels post-exercise?

The hormone that increases blood sugar levels post-exercise is glucagon. This hormone is produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas and plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism. During and after exercise, the body requires additional energy, primarily in the form of glucose, to maintain activity and support recovery.

When blood sugar levels begin to drop due to the utilization of glucose by working muscles, glucagon is secreted into the bloodstream. It stimulates the liver to release glucose by promoting glycogenolysis—the breakdown of glycogen into glucose—and gluconeogenesis, which is the synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources. This helps ensure that adequate levels of glucose are available in the bloodstream for energy production.

In contrast, insulin, another hormone produced by the pancreas, primarily works to lower blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells, which is not the action needed shortly after exercise when blood sugar levels are often depleted. Somatostatin plays a role in inhibiting the secretion of various hormones including insulin and glucagon but does not function directly to raise blood sugar levels. Cortisol, while also involved in glucose metabolism, tends to increase blood sugar levels in response to stress rather than as a direct post-exercise response, making glucagon