Figure 1 Role of the kidney in glucose homeostasis Figure 1 | Role of the kidney in glucose homeostasis. The kidney utilizes glucose as an energy source (renal medullary cells) and produces glucose via gluconeogenesis (renal cortical cells). The net result is that the net arteriovenous balance of glucose across the kidney is zero. Glucose production by the renal cortical cells is inhibited by insulin and stimulated by adrenaline. Glucagon has no effect on renal glucose production. Glutamine is extracted by renal tubular cells and used to generate ammonia (NH3), which has an important role in acid excretion (NH4+). RA, renal artery; RV, renal vein. DeFronzo, R. A. et al. (2016) Renal, metabolic and cardiovascular considerations of SGLT2 inhibition Nat. Rev. Nephrol. doi:10.1038/nrneph.2016.170