Gluconeogenesis for the MCAT: How the Body Makes Glucose During Fasting

Gluconeogenesis is an essential metabolic pathway that allows the body to produce glucose when dietary carbohydrates are unavailable. This episode explains how the liver and kidneys synthesize glucose from lactate, glycerol, and certain amino acids, while examining the three major bypass reactions that distinguish gluconeogenesis from glycolysis. You'll also learn how insulin, glucagon, and cellular energy levels regulate this pathway, along with the common enzyme questions and metabolic calculations tested on the MCAT.