Glucagon is created by alpha cells in your pancreas, and is essentially “reverse-insulin”. While insulin works to shuttle glucose into your cells, glucagon does the opposite.

Glucagon tends to increase when your blood glucose levels drop below normal, and this stimulates Gluconeogenesis.

Gluconeogenesis vs. Ketosis: Key Takeaways

“Gluconeogenesis is the formation of new glucose molecules in the body as opposed to glucose that is broken down from the long storage molecule glycogen. It takes place mostly in the liver, though it can also happen in smaller amounts in the kidney and small intestine. Gluconeogenesis is the opposite process of glycolysis, which is the breakdown of glucose molecules into their components.” - Biology Dictionary

“Gluconeogenesis is the process of synthesizing glucose in the body from non-carbohydrate precursors. It is the biosynthesis of new glucose, not derived from the consumption of carbohydrate. Glucose can be produced from lactate, pyruvate, glycerol (fat), and certain amino acids (protein).

While gluconeogenesis may occur when you are on a low-carb diet, it can also happen during periods of fasting (such as when you are sleeping), starvation, or during intense exercise. It may also happen when you consume excess protein. The complex process is a series of chemical conversions.

Those on a very low carb diet are often familiar with a metabolic state called ketosis which is another way of providing fuel to the body if not enough glucose is present. However, ketosis is a metabolic state that differs from the process known as gluconeogenesis.

During ketosis, the body essentially learns to use fat, rather than glucose, as fuel. When you are in this state, your energy supply comes from ketone bodies circulating in the blood. Ketone bodies are produced through a process called ketogenesis which happens in the mitochondria of liver cells. “ - Very Well Fit