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Insulin and Glucagon are the main catabolic hormones that are part of the feedback system that helps manage blood sugar levels. They work together to help maintain homeostasis by keeping blood sugar levels in the range that your body requires.
- Glucagon is a peptide hormone that prevents blood sugar from dropping below the prescribed limit.
- It is responsible for breaking of glycogen to glucose in the liver.
- Conversely, insulin is used to prevent your blood sugar level from rising above the required limit.
- It enables blood glucose to enter cells to produce the required amount of energy.
- The human pancreas has around 1 to 2 million Islets of Langerhans.
- The Islet of Langerhans is made up of two types of cells: α-cells and β-cells.
- Glucagon is secreted by the α-cells, while insulin is secreted by the β-cells.
Key Terms: Insulin and Glucagon, Glucagon, Insulin, Carbohydrates, Endocrine System, Pancreas, Hormones, Blood Sugar Levels, Insulin Function, Glucagon Function
What are Insulin and Glucagon?
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Insulin and glucagon are hormones that work in balance to play a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels. They are referred to as a negative feedback loop.
- Insulin is a peptide hormone which plays a major role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.
- Glucagon is a hormone formed in the pancreas that promotes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver.
- The normal fasting blood sugar level in the human body is between 80mg and 100mg.
- When blood sugar levels are too high, the pancreas produces more insulin.
- In case of low blood sugar levels, the pancreas secretes glucagon to bring the sugar to the required level.
- Insulin and glucagon work in a cycle in which one action triggers another, and so on, to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
- In other words, when the function of one of the hormones decreases, the other increases, thus maintaining a steady state.
Insulin and Glucagon
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Function of Insulin and Glucagon
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The respective function of insulin and glucagon are as follows:
Insulin Function
The cells require glucose for energy, which they obtain from carbohydrates that are converted to glucose. The majority of this glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream, causing blood glucose levels to increase.
- The pancreas is stimulated to produce insulin when the blood glucose level rises.
- Insulin instructs cells all over the body to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.
- Blood glucose levels decrease as glucose enters your cells.
- Some of the glucose is absorbed by the liver and stored as glycogen.
- When blood sugar levels fall, glucagon tells the liver to convert glycogen back to glucose, maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
- This process is completed by the use of insulin, which lowers the blood sugar level.
Glucagon Function
Insulin's effects are compensated by glucagon. During periods of low blood sugar, the liver stores glucose to provide energy to the cells. The liver ensures that blood glucose levels remain stable by storing glucose.
- The pancreas secretes glucagon when blood glucose levels drop.
- Glucagon tells the liver to convert glycogen to glucose, which increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
- Insulin then attaches to its receptors on the body's cells, allowing them to absorb glucose.
Insulin Secretory Pathway
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Insulin secretion is the phenomenon in the human body that responds when blood glucose levels increase. It facilitates the entry of glucose into the cells.
- The pancreatic beta cells act as a self-contained system.
- They are responsible for secreting insulin in response to changes in the level of blood glucose concentration.
- This leads to a decrease in the level of insulin.
- It is produced in the pancreas which is synthesized within the beta cells (b-cells of the islets of Langerhans).
Insulin Secretory Pathway
Glucagon Secretory Pathway
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Glucagon is a type of peptide hormone produced by the pancreatic alpha cells. Its function is to raise the concentration of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream.
- Moreover, it is also used as a medication to treat a lot of health conditions.
- Its function is just the opposite of insulin, which lowers the extracellular glucose level in the body.
- This hormone is produced from proglucagon and encoded by the GCG gene.
- Glucagon causes the liver to participate in glycogenolysis, which converts the stored glycogen into glucose.
- On the other hand, high blood glucose levels stimulate the release of insulin into the bloodstream.
- Insulin allows glucose to be taken up and is used by insulin-dependent tissues that are present in the body.
The pancreas releases glucagon into the bloodstream when the glucose levels are critically low, serving as a vital response to prevent hypoglycemia.
Glucagon Secretory Pathway
Broken Balance
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Controlling the body's blood sugar needs is difficult. When the body starts producing too much or too little insulin, complex disorders may arise.
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are among the most common disorders when the balance in blood sugar is affected.
- Conditions of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) arise due to the imbalance of insulin.
- If the health issue is left untreated, then it can lead to complications like diabetic coma.
Things to Remember
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- Insulin and glucagon work in a cycle known as a negative feedback loop to keep blood sugar levels in control.
- Glucagon is a hormone formed in the pancreas that promotes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver.
- You can take insulin in the form of pre-loaded syringes, pens, or pumps.
- Glycogen acts as a fuel between meals.
- Glucagon raises blood sugar by interacting with the liver, whereas insulin lowers blood sugar by assisting the cells in using glucose.
Read More:
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| Mechanism Of Hormone Action | Anti Mullerian Hormone | Biotechnology and Its Applications |
| Androgen Hormone | pituitary gland | Transgenic Animals |
| Diabetes Insipidus | Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone | Genetically Modified Organisms |
Sample Questions
Ques: The major hormones involved in the maintenance of blood glucose levels are produced by the _____? (1 mark)
a) Liver
b) Pancreas
c) Spleen
d) Gall bladder
Ans: Pancreas (option b)
Explaination: When blood sugar levels are too high, the pancreas produces more insulin. When blood sugar levels fall, the pancreas secretes glucagon to bring them back up.
Ques: What is meant by insulin? (2 marks)
Ans: Insulin is a peptide hormone, which plays a major role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. It is a type of hormones that help in the maintenance of homeostasis, a state in which the body's internal conditions are stable. Both hormones work in balance to play a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels and are referred to as a negative feedback loop.
Ques: What are the functions of insulin hormone? (3 marks)
Ans: The cells require glucose for energy, which they obtain from carbohydrates that are converted to glucose. The majority of this glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream, causing blood glucose levels to increase. The pancreas is stimulated to produce insulin when the blood glucose level rises. Insulin instructs cells all over the body to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. Blood glucose levels decrease as glucose enters your cells. Some of the glucose is absorbed by the liver and stored as glycogen. When blood sugar levels fall, glucagon tells the liver to convert glycogen back to glucose, maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Ques: What are different types of diabetes? (4 marks)
Ans: Diabetes is a metabolic illness in which the blood glucose levels remain high for an extended length of time. There are several different types of diabetes, mainly type 1 & type 2 are given below:
- Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. Blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes are frequently quite high.
- Type 2 diabetes: The most common kind of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, which usually occurs due to obesity and lack of exercise in people. The body produces insulin, but your cells do not respond correctly to it when insulin instructs them to take glucose from the bloodstream.
Ques: What is difference between high blood glucose levels and low blood glucose levels? (2 marks)
Ans: The difference between high blood glucose levels and low blood glucose levels are as follows:
| Blood glucose levels high | Blood glucose levels Low |
|---|---|
| The pancreatic alpha cells produce glucagon, which causes blood glucose levels to rise. | Insulin is released from the pancreas beta cells, causing blood glucose levels to drop. |
| This might include increasing the rate of glucose breakdown, accelerating glycogen production in the liver, or enhancing glucose absorption by the liver. | This might include increasing glycogen breakdown in the liver, increasing glucose release from the liver, or slowing glucose breakdown. |
Ques: What are the three types of insulin? (3 marks)
Ans: The three types of insulin are as follows:
- Rapid Acting: Rapid Acting is a type of insulin that will show its effects within a few minutes and lasts a couple of hours.
- Regular Acting: Regular Acting is also known as short acting. It will show its effects within thirty minutes and lasts 3 to 6 hours.
- Intermediate Acting: Intermediate Acting is the last type of insulin that will show its effects two to four hours after intake.
Ques: What is the difference betwen insulin and glucagon? (3 marks)
Ans: The difference betwen insulin and glucagon are as follows:
| Insulin | Glucagon |
|---|---|
| Insulin hormone is secreted by beta cells of pancreas. | Glucagon hormone is secreted by alpha cells of pancreas. |
| It will decrease the blood sugar level. | It will increase the blood sugar level. |
| Insulin converts glucose into glycogen. | Glucagon stimulates glucose through gluconeogenesis. |
Ques: Why is sugar released by the liver during the night? (2 marks)
Ans: When we are not eating, particularly at night or between meals, the body has to make its own sugar. The liver supplies sugar to the body by converting glycogen into glucose in a process called glycogenolysis. It will act as a glucose warehouse and will supply all sugar until we eat breakfast.
Ques: What happens when the balance between glucagon and insulin is broken? (2 marks)
Ans: When balance between insulin and glucagon is broken Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are among the most common disorders when the balance in blood sugar is affected. Conditions of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) arise due to the imbalance of insulin. If the health issue is left untreated, then it can lead to complications like diabetic coma.
Ques: What are the advantages and disadvantages of insulin? (3 marks)
Ans: The advantages of insulin are as follows:
- Insulin is one of the cost-effective techniques.
- It is good for people having an allergy to animal insulin.
The disadvantages of insulin are as follows:
- Some common side effects of insulin include tiredness, weight gain, and hypo unawareness.
- An individual might experience continuous sweating, which sometimes leads to seizures.
Ques: How can lemon water reduce blood sugar? (2 marks)
Ans: Although drinking lemon water won't immediately lower your blood sugar, it will help avoid unnecessary increases. This simple-to-make drink is low in calories and carbs and helps you stay hydrated—a crucial aspect of self-care for those with diabetes.
Do Check Out:
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| Comparison Topics in Biology | NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology | NCERT Class 11 Biology Book |
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