The physiologically predominant signal for pancreatic
beta cells to secrete insulin is glucose. While circulating
glucose levels and beta cell glucose metabolism regulate the
amount of released insulin, additional signals emanating from
other tissues and from neighbouring islet endocrine cells modulate
beta cell function. To this end, each individual beta cell
can be viewed as a sensor of a multitude of stimuli that are
integrated to determine the extent of glucose-dependent insulin
release. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding
of inter-organ communications that regulate beta
cell insulin release in response to elevated glucose levels.