Endocrinology: growth hormone and glucose: practice question

A Physiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Physiology · Endocrinology: growth hormone and glucose

Sample item

A 30-year-old man with acromegaly has a raised fasting glucose. Which action of growth hormone contributes to this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Antagonism of insulin action, reducing glucose uptake by muscle and fat

Growth hormone has an anti-insulin, diabetogenic effect: it raises lipolysis, reduces glucose uptake in muscle and fat and increases hepatic glucose output. In chronic excess, as in acromegaly, insulin resistance can lead to impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes.

Option by option

  • A. Antagonism of insulin action, reducing glucose uptake by muscle and fat (correct)

    Correct. Growth hormone opposes insulin, which raises blood glucose.

  • B. Stimulation of renal glucose reabsorption

    Renal glucose reabsorption is not the main mechanism of growth hormone hyperglycaemia.

  • C. Direct destruction of pancreatic beta cells

    Growth hormone excess does not destroy beta cells directly; their output rises to compensate until exhaustion.

  • D. Direct suppression of hepatic glucose output

    Growth hormone increases hepatic glucose output rather than suppressing it.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is A, Antagonism of insulin action, reducing glucose uptake by muscle and fat. Growth hormone has an anti-insulin, diabetogenic effect: it raises lipolysis, reduces glucose uptake in muscle and fat and increases hepatic glucose output.

Why is "Stimulation of renal glucose reabsorption" not the answer?

Renal glucose reabsorption is not the main mechanism of growth hormone hyperglycaemia.

Why is "Direct destruction of pancreatic beta cells" not the answer?

Growth hormone excess does not destroy beta cells directly; their output rises to compensate until exhaustion.

Why is "Direct suppression of hepatic glucose output" not the answer?

Growth hormone increases hepatic glucose output rather than suppressing it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrinology: growth hormone and glucose in Physiology. In chronic excess, as in acromegaly, insulin resistance can lead to impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Endocrinology: growth hormone and glucose?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.