Science Common Sense
993 - How does the body regulate its blood sugar levels?
Our body has a system to keep blood sugar levels in balance. Here's how it works:
Insulin: When we eat, the food we digest turns into sugar (glucose). Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps our body's cells absorb that sugar, lowering blood sugar levels.
Glucagon: Conversely, when we haven't eaten for a while and our blood sugar levels are low, the pancreas releases glucagon. Glucagon tells the liver to release stored sugar into the bloodstream, raising blood sugar levels.
Liver: The liver acts like a sugar storage tank. When insulin tells it to, it absorbs and stores excess sugar. When glucagon tells it to, it releases stored sugar into the bloodstream.
Think of insulin as the key that unlocks cells to let sugar in, and glucagon as the key that unlocks the liver to release stored sugar. Our body constantly balances these two to keep our blood sugar levels stable.