How Insulin Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Question 1

What is the 1st step in the insulin feedback loop?

Answer 1

• after a meal containing carbohydrates, glucose from the digested food is absorbed from the small intestine and moves into the blood
• this will increase blood glucose levels above the normal set point
• as this blood passes through the pancreas, the beta cells detect the raised glucose levels
• respond by secreting insulin into the blood

Question 2

What is the 2nd step in the insulin feedback loop?

Answer 2

• insulin goes to the main target organs, the liver and muscles
• where it makes the cell membranes more permeable to glucose (which enables more glucose to leave the blood and enter the cells)
• and increases the rate at which glucose is converted into glycogen in the cells

Question 3

What is the 3rd step in the insulin feedback loop?

Answer 3

• as bodily processes take glucose out of the blood
• blood sugar levels are lowered

Question 4

What is the 4th step in the insulin feedback loop?

Answer 4

• the lower glucose level is detected by the insulin-secreting cells
• which then stop releasing insulin into the blood

Question 5

What are the roles in the insulin negative control mechanism?

Answer 5

• the receptor organ is the pancreas
• the effector is the liver and muscles