Which hormone lowers blood glucose?

Which hormone lowers blood glucose?

• A. Glucagon
• B. Insulin
• C. Calcitonin
• D. Thyroxine

Answer: (B)

Insulin lowers blood glucose. It’s released by pancreatic beta cells when blood sugar rises after a meal. Insulin helps glucose move into liver, muscle, and fat cells, mainly by promoting the movement of GLUT4 transporters to the cell surface. It also drives the liver and muscles to store glucose as glycogen and promotes fat synthesis, while suppressing glucose production in the liver. Together, these actions reduce circulating glucose levels. Glucagon does the opposite by raising blood glucose through breaking down glycogen and making new glucose in the liver. Calcitonin mainly regulates calcium in bones and teeth, not glucose. Thyroxine affects overall metabolism and can influence glucose use, but it does not function to lower blood glucose in the same direct, homeostatic way as insulin.

Insulin lowers blood glucose. It’s released by pancreatic beta cells when blood sugar rises after a meal. Insulin helps glucose move into liver, muscle, and fat cells, mainly by promoting the movement of GLUT4 transporters to the cell surface. It also drives the liver and muscles to store glucose as glycogen and promotes fat synthesis, while suppressing glucose production in the liver. Together, these actions reduce circulating glucose levels.

Glucagon does the opposite by raising blood glucose through breaking down glycogen and making new glucose in the liver. Calcitonin mainly regulates calcium in bones and teeth, not glucose. Thyroxine affects overall metabolism and can influence glucose use, but it does not function to lower blood glucose in the same direct, homeostatic way as insulin.