What is the function of insulin?

What is the function of insulin?

• A. Decreases Blood Glucose
• B. Increases Blood Glucose
• C. Stimulates Glucagon Production
• D. Regulates Heart Rate

Answer: (A)

Insulin lowers blood glucose after a meal by signaling tissues to take up and store glucose. When blood glucose rises, pancreatic beta cells release insulin. It promotes glucose entry into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue by triggering GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell surface, increasing glucose uptake. In the liver, insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis and glycolysis while inhibiting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, reducing hepatic glucose production. It also encourages storage of energy as glycogen and fat. Because of these actions, circulating glucose falls toward normal levels. The other ideas don’t fit this function: insulin does not raise blood glucose, it does not stimulate glucagon production (glucagon raises blood glucose during fasting), and it does not regulate heart rate as its primary role.

Insulin lowers blood glucose after a meal by signaling tissues to take up and store glucose. When blood glucose rises, pancreatic beta cells release insulin. It promotes glucose entry into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue by triggering GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell surface, increasing glucose uptake. In the liver, insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis and glycolysis while inhibiting glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, reducing hepatic glucose production. It also encourages storage of energy as glycogen and fat. Because of these actions, circulating glucose falls toward normal levels.

The other ideas don’t fit this function: insulin does not raise blood glucose, it does not stimulate glucagon production (glucagon raises blood glucose during fasting), and it does not regulate heart rate as its primary role.