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MyGCSEScience · AQA Biology
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FreeScienceLessons · AQA BiologyControl of Blood Glucose — insulin and glucagon
Cognito · AQA Biology · Mar 2025Glucose & Glycogen & Glucagon
Cognito · AQA Biology · Apr 2025 · 2026/27 examsDiabetes — Type 1 & Type 2
Key facts
When blood glucose rises (after eating)
- Pancreas detects high blood glucose
- Pancreas releases insulin
- Insulin causes cells to take up glucose from the blood
- Liver converts glucose to glycogen (storage)
- Blood glucose falls back to normal
When blood glucose falls (after exercise)
- Pancreas detects low blood glucose
- Pancreas releases glucagon
- Glucagon causes glycogen → glucose in the liver
- Glucose released into blood
- Blood glucose rises back to normal
Type 1 diabetes
- Pancreas does not produce insulin
- Blood glucose can become dangerously high
- Treated by insulin injections and careful diet
- An autoimmune condition — immune system destroys insulin-producing cells
Type 2 diabetes
- Body cells stop responding to insulin
- Often linked to obesity and poor diet
- Treated by diet and exercise (sometimes medication)
- More common than Type 1
Exam questions — 5 questions · 7 marks
1 markHormonesAQA Jun 2024 P2 Q5
Which organ produces both insulin and glucagon?
A Liver
B Kidney
C Pancreas
D Adrenal gland
3 marksBlood glucose regulationAQA Jun 2023 P2 Q5 style
Describe how the body responds when blood glucose concentration becomes too high. (3 marks)
+30 XP
1 markGlucagonAQA 8461 style
What does glucagon cause the liver to do?
A Convert glucose into glycogen
B Convert glycogen back into glucose and release it into the blood
C Produce insulin
D Remove glucose from the blood
2 marksDiabetes typesAQA 8461 style
Give one difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. (2 marks — 1 for each type)
+20 XP
1 markNegative feedbackAQA Jun 2023 P2 Q5.2 style
Blood glucose control is an example of negative feedback. What does "negative feedback" mean in this context?
A A change causes more of the same change
B A change is detected and the response brings conditions back to the ideal level
C Blood glucose never changes once it is at the normal level
D The body produces glucose whenever blood glucose falls
Module complete! 🎉
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