How the Body’s Internal Clock May Influence Blood Sugar Balance

Disrupted clock gene expression rhythms are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• The biological clock regulates physiological and metabolic processes through rhythmic expression of clock genes.
• The central nervous system's master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus regulates multiple metabolic pathways.
• Feeding behavior and metabolite availability can influence the circadian clock's regulation.
• A food entrainable oscillator in the brain may activate food anticipatory activity and hormone secretion for digestion.
• Most cells and tissues have autonomous clocks that help synchronize glucose production and utilization.
• Orexin neurons in the hypothalamus play a role in controlling energy balance and modulating glucose dynamics.

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