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Control and Coordination

Sugar and feedback

After a sweet laddu, blood sugar goes up. A few hours later it is normal again.

Blood sugar rises after a meal.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Blood sugar rises after a meal.
  2. The pancreas makes more insulin.
  3. Insulin brings blood sugar down.
  4. The pancreas makes less insulin.

Pick three events. Watch insulin follow blood sugar.

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Blood sugar is the sugar the blood carries to the cells. The cells use it for energy. Its level must stay near normal.

Insulin is a hormone from the pancreas. It lowers blood sugar. Too little insulin can cause diabetes. Then blood sugar stays too high.

The body keeps the level steady by feedback. The effect of a hormone changes how much of it is made. When blood sugar rises, the pancreas makes more insulin. The sugar falls. Then the pancreas makes less insulin.

The rule

Feedback keeps blood sugar steady. When blood sugar rises, the pancreas makes more insulin. When the sugar falls, it makes less.

For example, after a laddu the pancreas makes more insulin. Some hours later the sugar is normal. The pancreas makes little insulin again.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 One body, many parts
  3. 2 The message and the messenger
  4. 3 The shortest path
  5. 4 The centre and the cable
  6. 5 Messages in the blood
  7. 6 Sugar and feedback
  8. 7 Checkpoint: nerves and hormones
  9. 8 Plants bend toward the light
  10. 9 Other plant hormones
  11. 10 Fast and slow, side by side
  12. 11 The big picture
  13. 12 Track quiz

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