controlling blood glucose

• insulin and glucagon control blood glucose level
• eating foods containing carbs, puts glucose into the blood from the gut
• the normal metabolism of cells removes glucose from the blood
• vigorous exercise removes much more glucose form the blood
• excess glucose can be stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver
• the levels of glucose in the blood must be kept steady - changes are monitored and controlled by the pancreas, using the hormones insulin and glucagon, in a negative feedback cycle
• if blood glucose is too high - insulin is added
• is blood glucose is too low - glucagon is added
• 1. if the blood glucose is too high, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin
  2. this causes glucose to move from the blood into the liver and muscle cells
  3. in the liver and muscle cells, excess glucose is converted into glycogen for storage and will be used at a later date
  4. blood glucose level is reduced
• 1. if the blood glucose level is too low, the pancreas secretes glucagon into the blood
  2. the glucagon is absorbed by the liver
  3. the glucagon makes the liver to convert glycogen into glucose
  4. glucose is then released into the blood
  5. this increases the blood glucose level