Summary
Highlights
This lesson focuses on how blood glucose levels are regulated by the hormones insulin and glucagon through a negative feedback system.
Consuming carbohydrate-rich foods increases blood glucose. The pancreas secretes insulin, which stimulates the liver to convert glucose into glycogen for storage and encourages body cells to absorb glucose, thus decreasing blood glucose levels back to normal. A faulty system can lead to diabetes.
When blood glucose levels drop, such as when hungry, the pancreas secretes glucagon. Glucagon targets the liver, stimulating it to break down glycogen back into glucose, which increases blood glucose levels to their optimal state.
In summary, insulin and glucagon are two hormones released by the pancreas that act on the liver to regulate our blood glucose level, maintaining equilibrium in the body.