A true story from inside Brain Headquarters of Bianca’s BodyCo.
It was supposed to be a quiet week.
After the Great Cortisol Spike, Ms. Hypothalamus had implemented calm yoga breaks and a “no adrenaline after 6 p.m.” policy.
But peace at BodyCo never lasts long.
Monday Morning: The Energy Committee Meeting
“Alright, team,” said Ms. Hypothalamus, clapping her hands. “Let’s talk fuel balance. Reports show glucose levels dropping after that 16-hour fast.”
Mr. Pancreas, Head of Energy Distribution, nodded nervously.
“Ma’am, insulin’s been off duty for hours. Glycogen storage is down to 30%. The Brain Division is already complaining about low supplies.”
The Brain’s representative — Ms. Neuron from Cognitive Operations — waved her hand.
“We run on glucose, remember? We can’t just manifest ATP out of gratitude!”
Enter the Counter-Regulators
“Relax,” said Mr. Glucagon, swaggering in from the Alpha Cell Office. “This is my time to shine.”
He turned to the Liver Department.
“Hey Liver, crack open those glycogen reserves — we’re going to convert some glucose and keep this place running.”
“On it, boss,” said the Liver, getting to work.
The Insulin-Glucagon Tug-of-War
By lunchtime, Ms. Hypothalamus received new reports — blood sugar was rising too fast.
“Pancreas! What’s going on?”
Mr. Pancreas sighed.
“Insulin saw the numbers and panicked. She’s been over-correcting again. Glucagon says she’s a micromanager.”
Insulin burst through the door.
“Excuse me? Someone has to tell the cells to open their glucose doors — otherwise, we’ll drown in sugar!”
“Team,” interrupted Ms. Hypothalamus, rubbing her temples, “can we please stop turning every feedback loop into a power struggle?”
The Sympathetic Branch Chimes In
Suddenly, alarms flashed again — the Adrenal Division had joined the call.
Cortisol and Adrenaline shouted over each other:
“There’s a meeting about low blood sugar? We thought it was another emergency!”
They dumped a round of emergency glucose into circulation, just in case.
The Heart started racing. The Liver groaned.
BodyCo was once again in metabolic chaos.
The Unexpected Hero
Then, quietly, another figure entered the room.
It was Ms. Ketone — calm, efficient, and faintly smelling of coconut oil.
“I can help,” she said softly. “When carbs are scarce, I can take the night shift. The brain likes me just fine once it adjusts.”
Everyone stared.
Even the Brain Division looked intrigued.
“You mean,” said Ms. Hypothalamus slowly, “we’re not obligate carb-burners after all?”
“Not at all,” said Ketone, smiling. “We’re adaptable. I’m not here to replace glucose — just to share the load.”
The Resolution
By the end of the week, BodyCo had drafted a new Energy Policy:
- Glucose remains the primary fuel for high-demand tasks.
- Ketones are backup power, especially useful in low-carb or fasting states.
- Cortisol and Adrenaline may only attend real
Moral of the Story
Homeostasis isn’t about picking a favourite fuel — it’s about flexibility.
Bianca’s BodyCo learned that being a “facultative metaboliser” means thriving on whatever energy the system provides, whether it’s breakfast oats or beta-hydroxybutyrate.
And somewhere deep inside the Liver Department, Ms. Ketone and Mr. Glucagon now share a quiet coffee break, proud to finally be recognized as equal partners in metabolic management.