How does insulin lower the blood glucose level if it is too high?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas that helps control blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels are too high, the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin binds to cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue and causes these cells to take in glucose from the blood. The glucose is then stored in these cells as glycogen, fat, or other molecules. This process helps lower blood glucose levels.

Here are the steps in more detail:

1. Insulin is released into the bloodstream. When blood glucose levels rise, the beta cells of the pancreas release insulin into the bloodstream. The higher the blood glucose level, the more insulin is released.

2. Insulin binds to cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue. Once insulin is in the bloodstream, it travels to cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue. These cells have receptors for insulin on their surface. When insulin binds to these receptors, it triggers a series of events that causes the cells to take in glucose from the blood.

3. Glucose is stored in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue. Once glucose is inside the cells, it can be stored in a variety of forms. In the liver, glucose is stored as glycogen. Glycogen is a branched chain of glucose molecules. In muscle, glucose is stored as glycogen and also as glucose-6-phosphate. Glucose-6-phosphate is a molecule that can be used to generate energy. In fat tissue, glucose is stored as triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat molecule.

4. Blood glucose levels decrease. As the cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue take in glucose from the blood, blood glucose levels decrease.

In summary, insulin helps to lower blood glucose levels by causing cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take in glucose from the blood. The glucose is then stored in these cells and blood glucose levels decrease.