Question

A patient newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes asks a nurse, "How does insulin normally work in my body?" The nurse explains that normal insulin has which action in the body?

Select one:
a. It stimulates the pancreas to reabsorb glucose.
b. It promotes the synthesis of amino acids into glucose.
c. It stimulates the liver to convert glycogen to glucose.
d. It promotes the passage of glucose into cells for energy

Answer 1

Insulin, produced by the pancreas, enables the uptake of glucose by cells for energy and storage, crucial in lowering blood glucose levels. It is essential for energy production and storage and its absence or inefficiency leads to diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

How Insulin Works in the Human Body?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to increased blood glucose levels, such as after a meal. Its primary action is to promote the passage of glucose into cells to be used for energy, which helps to lower blood glucose levels. This process involves insulin binding to insulin receptors on the cell surface, initiating the uptake of glucose by increasing the number of glucose transporter proteins in the cell membrane. Glucose that enters the cells is then used for ATP production or is stored as glycogen, mainly in the liver and muscle cells.

Additionally, insulin stimulates the liver to convert excess glucose into glycogen for storage and inhibits glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, processes that act to increase blood glucose levels. Insulin also facilitates the conversion of glucose to fat in adipocytes and supports protein synthesis in muscles.

Patients with type 1 diabetes lack the ability to produce insulin, which leads to elevated levels of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) since it cannot be effectively taken up by the cells. This requires lifelong insulin administration to manage blood glucose levels.