Blood Sugar and Puberty Hormones
Your pancreas is like a sugar referee, releasing two opposing hormones called insulin and glucagon. These work together to keep your blood glucose levels perfectly balanced, making sure your cells get the energy they need without having too much or too little sugar floating around.
During puberty, different hormones kick into high gear depending on whether you're male or female. Testicles produce testosterone, which causes all those male puberty changes like facial hair growth, voice deepening, and sperm production.
For females, the ovaries release oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen helps produce eggs and thickens the uterus lining each month, while progesterone maintains that lining during ovulation - essentially preparing the body for potential pregnancy.
Key Point: Pancreatic hormones control blood sugar, whilst sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone) drive all the physical changes during puberty.