Final answer:
Insulin and glucagon are the pancreatic hormones responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, with insulin lowering and glucagon increasing blood glucose. This regulation is crucial for maintaining normal bodily functions, and disturbances can lead to disorders like diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two pancreatic hormones that are used to regulate blood sugar are insulin, which lowers blood glucose, and glucagon, which increases blood glucose. Insulin is secreted by beta cells in the pancreatic islets when blood glucose levels rise, prompting cells to take up glucose and store it as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Conversely, glucagon is secreted by alpha cells when blood glucose levels fall, stimulating the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream.
The regulation of blood sugar by these hormones represents a classic negative feedback loop where each hormone has the opposite effect on blood glucose levels. This system ensures that glucose levels remain within a narrow and optimal range, imperative for normal bodily functions. Disorders such as diabetes occur when this regulatory system is compromised, leading to abnormally high or low blood glucose levels.