controlling blood glucose

• insulin and glucagon control blood glucose levels
• eating foods containing carbohydrates puts glucose into the blood from the gut
• the level of glucose in the blood is controlled by the pancreas and liver, using the hormones insulin and glucagon, in a negative feedback cycle
• insulin lowers blood glucose levels
• glucagon increases blood glucose levels
• if there isn't enough glucose in the blood, alpha cells release glucagon which causes glycogen to be broken down into glucose molecules that are released back into the bloodstream
• when there's too much glucose in the blood, beta cells release insulin which stimulates cells to take up more glucose from the bloodstream
• insulin works by causing glucose to turn into glycogen
• glucagon works by causing glycogen to turn back into glucose