Which hormone is associated with raising blood glucose levels during stress?

The hormone associated with raising blood glucose levels during stress is epinephrine. This hormone, also known as adrenaline, is released from the adrenal glands in response to stress, particularly during the "fight or flight" response. Epinephrine functions to quickly elevate blood glucose levels by stimulating glycogenolysis, the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, in the liver and muscle tissues. This rapid increase in glucose availability ensures that energy is available for immediate use by the body to respond to stressors.

In contrast, other hormones listed have different roles. Insulin, for instance, works to lower blood glucose levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells. Cortisol, although it also raises blood glucose levels, does so more gradually and is primarily involved in long-term stress responses. Glucagon primarily acts to increase blood glucose levels but is released in response to low blood sugar rather than as a stress response hormone. Thus, while multiple hormones can influence blood glucose levels, epinephrine is specifically linked to immediate increases during acute stress situations.