Final answer:
The hormone insulin, produced by the pancreatic beta cells, is released to lower blood glucose to the normal range when food is consumed and blood glucose levels rise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormone insulin is released from the pancreas as soon as eating begins to lower blood glucose to the normal range. A rise in blood glucose levels triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. This endocrine hormone is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas and helps cells take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing the blood glucose level. If the blood glucose level rises above the normal range, insulin instructs cells to absorb the excess glucose until the level decreases back to normal. In contrast, when blood glucose levels fall below normal, glucagon is released by the pancreatic alpha cells to increase blood glucose levels by breaking down glycogen into glucose.