Blood sugar regulation
Our erythrocytes and some neurons (nerve cells) use glucose exclusively
as an energy source. They cannot burn fat like many of our other cells
can.
They must constantly have glucose added to their blood in order to
function at all.
Blood sugar is expressed in mmol/l.
Several hormones work together to maintain a stable blood sugar
concentration of between 4-6 mmol/l.
Insulin
Insulin lowers blood sugar
It is formed in the pancreas, more
specifically in the beta cells of the
pancreas.
We always have some blood sugar in our
blood. Blood sugar rises with meals.
Increased secretion of insulin from the
pancreas into the blood. Insulin is
, carried in the blood to the body's cells, where it helps to transport glucose
into the cells.
Insulin is carried in the blood to the body's cells, where it helps to let
glucose into the cells.
Insulin stimulates insulin receptors on the outside of the cell , which
stimulates the cell to insert a special transport protein (GLUT4) into the
cell membrane so that glucose can diffuse through them , allowing
glucose to enter the cells.
Inside the cells, especially in our muscle cells and liver cells, insulin
stimulates the deposition of glucose in the form of the polysaccharide
glycogen.
Glucose can also be burned and turned into ATP inside all the body's cells.
Our erythrocytes and some neurons (nerve cells) use glucose exclusively
as an energy source. They cannot burn fat like many of our other cells
can.
They must constantly have glucose added to their blood in order to
function at all.
Blood sugar is expressed in mmol/l.
Several hormones work together to maintain a stable blood sugar
concentration of between 4-6 mmol/l.
Insulin
Insulin lowers blood sugar
It is formed in the pancreas, more
specifically in the beta cells of the
pancreas.
We always have some blood sugar in our
blood. Blood sugar rises with meals.
Increased secretion of insulin from the
pancreas into the blood. Insulin is
, carried in the blood to the body's cells, where it helps to transport glucose
into the cells.
Insulin is carried in the blood to the body's cells, where it helps to let
glucose into the cells.
Insulin stimulates insulin receptors on the outside of the cell , which
stimulates the cell to insert a special transport protein (GLUT4) into the
cell membrane so that glucose can diffuse through them , allowing
glucose to enter the cells.
Inside the cells, especially in our muscle cells and liver cells, insulin
stimulates the deposition of glucose in the form of the polysaccharide
glycogen.
Glucose can also be burned and turned into ATP inside all the body's cells.
