Role of glucagon in control of blood sugar levels – Higher
Negative feedback
In blood glucose regulation, the hormone insulin plays a key role. When blood sugar rises in the blood, insulin sends a signal to the liver, muscles and other cells to store the excess glucose in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles. Whereas, if the blood glucose level is too low, the liver receives a message to release some of that stored glucose into the blood. This change is brought about by another hormone produced by the pancreas called glucagon.
This is an example of negative feedback.
How glucose is regulated
| Blood glucose level | Effect on pancreas | Effect on liver | Effect on blood glucose level |
| Too high | Insulin secreted into the blood | Liver converts glucose into glycogen | Goes down |
| Too low | Glucagon not insulin is secreted into the blood | Liver does not convert glucose into glycogen. Glycogen is converted to glucose. | Goes up |
| Blood glucose level | Too high |
|---|---|
| Effect on pancreas | Insulin secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | Liver converts glucose into glycogen |
| Effect on blood glucose level | Goes down |
| Blood glucose level | Too low |
|---|---|
| Effect on pancreas | Glucagon not insulin is secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | Liver does not convert glucose into glycogen. Glycogen is converted to glucose. |
| Effect on blood glucose level | Goes up |