Exam Tips: Glucose Regulation

Name the specific cells, not just the pancreas: "The pancreas releases insulin" earns partial credit. "Beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas release insulin" earns full credit. Similarly, glucagon is released by alpha cells — always specify which cell type.

Glucose → Glycogen = Storage (not destruction): Insulin promotes the STORAGE of glucose as glycogen in liver and muscle. The glucose is not removed from the body — it is converted to a storage polysaccharide. Glucagon reverses this: glycogen → glucose (released to blood).

Know the three G-words: Glucose (monosaccharide, in blood), Glycogen (polysaccharide, stored in liver/muscle), Glucagon (hormone, raises blood glucose). Confusing these three words in an exam is one of the most common errors in Unit 6.

Type 1 vs Type 2 — state the cause clearly: For Type 1, state that the immune system destroys the beta cells so NO insulin is produced. For Type 2, state that body cells become resistant to insulin (they do not respond to it normally), not that no insulin is produced. Mixing up the causes loses all comparison marks.

Graph interpretation: If given a blood glucose graph, look for the steep rise after a meal (glucose absorbed), then a fall back to normal (insulin released). An absent fall (stays high) suggests Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Always link graph features to the underlying mechanism.

Higher: always complete the negative feedback loop: After describing the insulin or glucagon response, state that once blood glucose returns to normal, the stimulus is removed and hormone secretion decreases. This closing step confirms you understand negative feedback as a self-regulating system.