In brief
A hormone made by the pancreas. It lets glucose in the blood enter the body's cells and is central to blood sugar control.
- Insulin tests are most often used to investigate low blood glucose, according to Pathology Tests Explained.
- Insulin is usually measured together with C-peptide, which more accurately shows how much insulin the pancreas makes.
- Regular physical activity is part of managing type 2 diabetes.
How it works
When blood glucose rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin, which lets glucose in the blood enter your cells as it is needed. If cells do not respond properly to insulin, the body produces more insulin to make up for its reduced effectiveness. This is called insulin resistance.
If the islets of the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels stay high. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or does not respond to it properly.
Connections
3 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Insulin is made by
When blood glucose rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin.
Sources: Pathology Tests Explained, Insulin; Better Health Channel (Victorian Government), Pancreas
Insulin helps control
Insulin enables glucose in the blood to enter your body's cells as it is needed.
Insulin can be lowered by
Without its insulin-making cells, the body needs insulin replacement to manage blood glucose.
Lab tests
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from Pathology Tests Explained, the Better Health Channel and healthdirect. Sources read on 13, 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.