Which hormone lowers blood glucose by increasing glycolysis (glucose breakdown)?

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Multiple Choice

Which hormone lowers blood glucose by increasing glycolysis (glucose breakdown)?

Insulin lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and its breakdown through glycolysis. When glucose levels rise, insulin is released and signals cells to take in glucose, especially in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, by mobilizing GLUT4 transporters to the cell surface. In the liver, insulin enhances glycolysis by activating key enzymes and increasing fructose-2,6-bisphosphate via PFK-2, which greatly stimulates PFK-1, the rate-limiting step of glycolysis. This pushes glucose through the glycolytic pathway to produce energy and metabolic intermediates, helping to reduce blood glucose. At the same time, insulin suppresses glucose production pathways like gluconeogenesis. Other hormones such as glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol raise blood glucose by promoting glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis, rather than glycolysis, so they don’t lower blood glucose in the same way.

Insulin lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and its breakdown through glycolysis. When glucose levels rise, insulin is released and signals cells to take in glucose, especially in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, by mobilizing GLUT4 transporters to the cell surface. In the liver, insulin enhances glycolysis by activating key enzymes and increasing fructose-2,6-bisphosphate via PFK-2, which greatly stimulates PFK-1, the rate-limiting step of glycolysis. This pushes glucose through the glycolytic pathway to produce energy and metabolic intermediates, helping to reduce blood glucose. At the same time, insulin suppresses glucose production pathways like gluconeogenesis. Other hormones such as glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol raise blood glucose by promoting glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis, rather than glycolysis, so they don’t lower blood glucose in the same way.

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