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What type of feedback loop does insulin create in regulating blood sugar levels?

  1. Positive feedback

  2. Negative feedback

  3. Immediate feedback

  4. Zero feedback

The correct answer is: Negative feedback

Insulin creates a negative feedback loop in regulating blood sugar levels. In this process, when blood sugar levels rise after eating, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose by the cells and stimulates the liver to store glucose as glycogen, which in turn lowers blood sugar levels. As blood sugar levels decrease, the stimulus for insulin release diminishes, ultimately reducing the amount of insulin in the bloodstream. This self-regulating mechanism helps maintain blood sugar levels within a normal range, demonstrating the characteristic of a negative feedback loop where the output (insulin’s effects on lowering blood sugar) works to reverse the initial stimulus (elevated blood sugar). This is a fundamental aspect of homeostasis in the body. The other types of feedback loops, such as positive feedback, involve processes that amplify changes rather than regulate them back to a set point, which is not how insulin functions. Immediate and zero feedback do not adequately describe the continuous regulatory process involved in insulin's action on blood glucose levels. Negative feedback is essential for maintaining stability within physiological systems.