Which effect does insulin have on body cells?

Which effect does insulin have on body cells?

• A. Increases glucose uptake
• B. Decreases glucose uptake
• C. Inhibits glycogen synthesis
• D. Increases glucose production by liver

Answer: (A)

Insulin's main action is to lower blood glucose by helping body cells take in glucose from the bloodstream. In muscle and fat tissue, insulin triggers GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell membrane, so more glucose can enter the cells and be used for energy or stored as glycogen or fat. This is why glucose level in the blood drops after a meal when insulin is released. The other ideas don’t fit: insulin doesn’t reduce uptake, it increases it; it doesn’t inhibit glycogen synthesis, it promotes it; and it doesn’t raise glucose production by the liver, it actually helps suppress hepatic glucose output and promote storage. Brain cells mainly take up glucose without insulin, but the key effect on most body cells is increased glucose uptake.

Insulin's main action is to lower blood glucose by helping body cells take in glucose from the bloodstream. In muscle and fat tissue, insulin triggers GLUT4 transporters to move to the cell membrane, so more glucose can enter the cells and be used for energy or stored as glycogen or fat. This is why glucose level in the blood drops after a meal when insulin is released. The other ideas don’t fit: insulin doesn’t reduce uptake, it increases it; it doesn’t inhibit glycogen synthesis, it promotes it; and it doesn’t raise glucose production by the liver, it actually helps suppress hepatic glucose output and promote storage. Brain cells mainly take up glucose without insulin, but the key effect on most body cells is increased glucose uptake.