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Unit 3 - Insulin and Blood Glucose Control
After a meal blood glucose levels are increased. This is the stimulus for insulin release from the pancreas.

Unit 3 - Insulin and Blood Glucose Control

In GCSE Biology, you learn how insulin controls blood glucose levels so cells get a steady supply of energy after meals and between them.

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Fascinating Fact:

When insulin is released, blood glucose concentration falls back towards the normal range. This helps to protect cells from damage caused by very high glucose levels.

In GCSE Biology, insulin is studied as a hormone that helps keep blood glucose within safe limits. After a meal, it is released from the pancreas and encourages cells, especially in the liver and muscles, to take in and store extra glucose.

Key Terms

  • Insulin: A hormone produced by the pancreas that helps body cells absorb glucose from the blood, lowering blood glucose concentration after eating.
  • Blood glucose concentration: The amount of glucose dissolved in the blood at any time, which needs to be kept within a narrow, healthy range.
  • Negative feedback: A control mechanism where a change triggers responses that bring a condition, such as blood glucose, back towards a target level.

Frequently Asked Questions (click to see answers)

What is insulin in GCSE Biology?

In GCSE Biology, insulin is described as a hormone released by the pancreas after eating. It helps cells take up glucose from the blood so that blood glucose concentration is reduced.

How does insulin help control blood glucose levels?

Insulin binds to cells and makes them absorb more glucose from the blood. Some glucose is used in respiration and some is stored, which prevents blood glucose levels from staying too high.

What happens if the body does not make enough insulin?

If the body does not make enough insulin, blood glucose can remain very high. This is seen in type 1 diabetes and can lead to tiredness, thirst and long-term health problems if untreated.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
Insulin is a hormone which means that it travels in the...
blood
urine
lungs
liver
All hormones travel in the blood to their target organ
2 .
Insulin has this effect on blood glucose levels.
Increased
Decreased
Same
Increased then decreased
Insulin lowers blood glucose
3 .
Insulin exerts its action by causing glucose...
uptake
conversion
production
synthesis
It is changed into a chemical called glycogen which can be stored. Glucose is a soluble molecule and cannot be stored
4 .
A typical situation for insulin release would be...
before a meal
during a meal
after a meal
during sleep
After a meal, you will have digested your food and blood glucose levels will be increased. This is the stimulus for insulin release from the pancreas
5 .
Glucose is removed from the blood by being taken up into cells in the...
lungs
liver
blood
kidneys
The liver has many other jobs - it produces cholesterol, urea and substances that break down fats. It provides the body's storage device for vitamins A, D, K and B12 as well as the glycogen produced when insulin reduces blood sugar
6 .
Insulin is released when blood glucose levels are...
high
low
no different
constant
A different hormone (glucagon) is secreted when the glucose concentration in the blood falls too low
7 .
This is the organ that monitors blood glucose levels.
Pancreas
Liver
Brain
Kidney
The pancreas monitors blood glucose and releases insulin or glucagon if needed
8 .
Insulin is a hormone released from the...
liver
brain
pancreas
muscles
The pancreas is about 15 cm in length and situated between the stomach and the liver
9 .
Diabetes can be caused by a lack of...
vitamins
glucose
glycogen
insulin
Diabetics with type 1 diabetes have to inject themselves with insulin because their pancreas cannot make insulin
10 .
This is the target organ for insulin.
Brain
Liver
Lungs
Heart
Cells in the liver are stimulated to reduce the glucose concentration in the blood by converting it to glycogen
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Maintaining internal environments

Author:  Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)
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