Final answer:
Glucose is utilized for energy or stored as glycogen in muscle tissue, with insulin playing a key role in its uptake and storage, particularly in liver and muscle cells. The liver also regulates blood glucose levels by converting excess glucose into glycogen or breaking it down during periods of low blood glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Upon uptake, glucose has two fates in the muscle tissue. Either it is immediately used for energy via glycolysis, or it is stored as glycogen for later use. During the absorptive state, which can last up to 4 hours after eating, insulin is released from the pancreatic beta cells. Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose by the liver, muscle, and fat cells. Inside these cells, thanks to insulin’s action, glucose can be stored as glycogen, particularly in the liver and muscle cells, or used immediately to produce energy.
The liver plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar levels. When blood glucose levels are high, the liver converts the excess glucose into glycogen. Conversely, when glucose levels in the blood decrease, the liver can break down glycogen back into glucose, a process known as glycogenolysis, to maintain a steady level of glucose in the blood.