Insulin and blood glucose
Glucose is needed in the blood to supply cells with glucose for A series of chemical reactions that happen in every living cell to release energy from food molecules..
If blood glucose concentrations are too high, cells are damaged due to a loss of water by The process by which water moves in and out of cells from a high concentration to a low concentration.. The pancreas continually monitors the level of glucose in the blood.
How insulin works
The following steps show the different changes in the body before, during and after a meal is eaten:
- Normal blood glucose concentration in the body.
- Meal high in carbohydrate is eaten.
- Blood glucose concentration increases (as glucose is absorbed from the ileum).
- An organ that monitors blood glucose concentrations and produces insulin. makes insulin after detecting blood glucose increase.
- Insulin acts in the liver to reduce blood glucose concentration by:
- increasing glucose absorption from the blood by the liver and muscles;
- converting excess glucose to Storage of carbohydrate in the liver. It can be broken down to glucose when sugar reserves are low. which is stored mainly in liver but also muscle;
- increasing respiration in the liver.
- Normal blood glucose concentration is restored.
When blood glucose concentrations are low, less insulin is produced and the above processes do not take place or slow down.
This helps to raise the concentration of glucose in the blood.