How Does Insulin Lower Blood Sugar?
Insulin is a hormone that converts food into energy for your body by helping the body absorb glucose. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas when blood sugar rises. The pancreas is composed of hundreds of thousands of cell clusters called islets of Langerhans. A large portion of these cells are beta cells, which produce insulin. These cells are stimulated by rising blood sugar levels to produce insulin. Insulin’s primary function is to lower blood sugar when blood glucose levels rise within the body. While the pancreas is constantly secreting insulin, the amount of insulin that is released is dependent on how much blood glucose is in the blood. A high blood glucose level will result in increased insulin production. As the insulin gradually lowers the level of sugar in the blood, the amount of insulin the pancreas releases also gradually decreases. Sugar levels in the blood normally rise after eating. A meal triggers the pancreas to produce insulin, which lowers the blood sugar by assistin
