Question

Which hormone induces its target cells to take up glucose, thereby lowering blood glucose levels?

Answer 1

The hormone you are talking about is insulin.

Explanation:

Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. It helps regulate the levels of glucose in blood by preventing it to rise above certain limit.

The hormone binds to certain receptors on the plasma membrane of cells and causes the cells to take in glucose for metabolism.

High level of glucose in blood is hyperglycaemia and the low level of the same is called hypoglycemia. (Normal range is about 80 to 120 mg per decilitre of blood.)

Diabetes mellitus, a very common disease is a result of hyperglycaemia.

1. Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus : A person suffering from this doesn't secrete enough insulin and thus the amount of glucose rises in blood. This is because of beta cells being damaged in the pancreas.
2. Insulin independent diabetes mellitus : In this case, the pancreas is healthy, producing optimum amounts of insulin but the cell receptors do not respond to insulin, so cells fail to take up glucose from blood. This will lead to a rise in blood glucose level.