Which hormone is secreted by the pancreas and helps regulate blood glucose levels?

Which hormone is secreted by the pancreas and helps regulate blood glucose levels?

• A. Insulin
• B. Glucagon
• C. Somatostatin
• D. Amylin

Answer: (A)

Insulin, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, is the hormone that lowers blood glucose. After a meal, rising glucose triggers its release. Insulin promotes glucose uptake into muscle and fat tissues by triggering GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell surface, lowering circulating sugar. In the liver, it stimulates glycogen synthesis and glycolysis while inhibiting glucose production, further reducing blood glucose levels. Other pancreatic hormones modulate glucose control—glucagon raises glucose by promoting hepatic glucose release, somatostatin slows the release of multiple hormones, and amylin co‑secreted with insulin helps regulate postprandial glucose by slowing gastric emptying—but insulin is the principal regulator that decreases blood glucose.

Insulin, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, is the hormone that lowers blood glucose. After a meal, rising glucose triggers its release. Insulin promotes glucose uptake into muscle and fat tissues by triggering GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell surface, lowering circulating sugar. In the liver, it stimulates glycogen synthesis and glycolysis while inhibiting glucose production, further reducing blood glucose levels. Other pancreatic hormones modulate glucose control—glucagon raises glucose by promoting hepatic glucose release, somatostatin slows the release of multiple hormones, and amylin co‑secreted with insulin helps regulate postprandial glucose by slowing gastric emptying—but insulin is the principal regulator that decreases blood glucose.