What Are Insulin and Glucagon?
Insulin and glucagon are hormones that help regulate the blood sugar, or sugar levels, in your body. Glucose from the food you eat moves through your bloodstream to help fuel your body.
How Do Insulin and Glucagon Work?
Insulin and glucagon work together to balance your blood sugar level and keep it in the narrow range that your body needs.
How Do Insulin and Glucagon Work Together?
Insulin and glucagon work in a feedback loop, in opposition to each other.
Definitions
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Glucose | Sugar that circulates in your blood to feed your cells |
| Insulin | A hormone that tells your cells either to take glucose from your blood for energy or to store it for later use |
| Glycogen | A substance made from glucose that is stored in your liver and muscle cells to be used later for energy |
| Glucagon | A hormone that tells the cells in your liver and muscles to turn glycogen into glucose and release it into your blood, so that your cells can use it for energy |
| Pancreas | An organ in your abdomen that makes and releases insulin and glucagon |
How Does Insulin Work?
During digestion, foods that contain carbohydrate are broken down into glucose. Most of this glucose is sent into your bloodstream, causing a rise in blood sugar levels. This rise in blood sugar signals your pancreas to make insulin.
Insulin tells the cells in your body to take glucose from your bloodstream. As glucose moves into your cells, your blood sugar levels fall. Some cells use the glucose as energy. Other cells, such as those in your liver and muscles, store the excess glucose as a substance called glycogen. Your body uses glycogen for fuel between meals.
How Does Glucagon Work?
Glucagon works to balance out the effects of insulin.
About four to six hours after eating, the glucose levels in your blood fall, which triggers your pancreas to make glucagon. This hormone signals the cells in your liver and muscles to turn the stored glycogen back into glucose. These cells then release the glucose into your bloodstream so that your other cells can use it for energy.
This whole feedback loop with insulin and glucagon is constantly in motion. By preventing your blood sugar from dropping too low, it makes sure your body has a continuous source of energy.
This article is for general information only; please consult your doctor and dietitian about your own situation.
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This content is for information only. For a personalised nutrition programme, please consult a dietitian.
