A hormone that helps regulate blood glucose by promoting the movement of glucose from the blood into cells and supporting its storage and use.
Insulin is produced mainly by beta cells in the pancreas. After eating, rising blood glucose normally stimulates insulin release. Insulin helps muscle and other tissues take up glucose, promotes glucose storage in the liver, and suppresses excessive glucose production by the liver. Too little insulin production, impaired insulin action, or both can lead to persistently elevated blood glucose, as occurs in diabetes.
QUICK FACT
Insulin does more than control blood sugar; it also influences fat and protein metabolism.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Glucagon: another pancreatic hormone that generally raises blood glucose, whereas insulin generally lowers it.
SEE ALSO
