Diabetes

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter that is released by the brain. It is also called the reward chemical because it is the substance that carries signals from one neuron to another and tells the brain when something important has happened. Dopamine is a key player in the brain's reward system, which includes the brain circuitry that controls feelings of pleasure and enjoyment. In short, it’s the chemical responsible for making you feel happy.

Watch the full episode of How Dopamine Impacts Blood Glucose? Diabetes, Hypertension, Nutrition

How Dopamine Impacts Blood Glucose? Diabetes, Hypertension, Nutrition

How does dopamine impact blood glucose?

Dopamine plays an important role in the body's ability to maintain normal glucose levels. Dopamine is secreted by the hypothalamus and released into the blood by the pituitary gland, where it stimulates the pancreas to release insulin. The combination of insulin and glucose is transported into various cells in the body. If there is insufficient insulin, the glucose will not enter the cells and the blood sugar levels will increase.

The way in which dopamine impacts blood glucose is by having an effect on the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Dopamine is an important chemical in the brain that influences emotions and mental processes. In the body, dopamine affects blood pressure and heart rate and controls pain perception. Dopamine is also called “the hormone of desire” because of its role in the reward system of the brain, and how it is released when you experience a thrill, or in anticipation of a reward. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which means it is a chemical released by one nerve cell and picked up by another, at nerve synapses. Dopamine is also produced in the pancreas. In the pancreas, dopamine works in the cells that make insulin and glucagon, the hormones that regulate the amount of glucose in the blood. The vestibular system and the hypothalamus are parts of the brain that control the secretion of insulin and glucagon. In short, dopamine can increase glucagon, which causes the blood glucose level to fall. Dopamine decreases insulin secretion, which causes the blood glucose level to rise.

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