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Insulin and blood glucose

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis · Blood glucose and diabetes · note 1 of 5

Spec 7.13Download these notes (PDF)4 pages

Insulin and blood glucoseSpec 7.13

Blood glucose concentration must stay steady. It rises after a meal. The pancreas detects this and secretes the hormone insulin into the blood.

  1. Blood glucose concentration rises after a meal.
  2. The pancreas secretes insulin into the blood.
  3. Insulin makes cells take up glucose from the blood. In the liver and muscles, glucose is converted into glycogen for storage.
  4. Blood glucose concentration falls back to normal.
Flow diagram: high blood glucose after a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin, insulin is carried in the blood, liver and muscle cells take up glucose and store it as glycogen, and blood glucose falls back to normal.Tap to enlarge
How insulin brings a high blood glucose concentration back to normal.