A patient with cirrhosis experiences a sudden drop in blood glucose levels. Which mechanism explains why the liver fails to maintain stable blood glucose despite glucagon stimulation?

💡 Explanation

In cirrhosis, extensive hepatocyte damage decreases functional liver mass, impairing gluconeogenesis because the liver's capacity to synthesize glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors is diminished; therefore, blood glucose drops despite hormonal signals, rather than because of bile acid problems or immune cell function.

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