Which hormone lowers glucose levels in the blood by stimulating cells to store excess glucose?

Insulin is the hormone responsible for lowering glucose levels in the blood. It achieves this by facilitating the uptake of glucose into the body’s cells, particularly muscle and fat cells, and promoting the conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver and muscle tissue. This process is essential for maintaining normal blood glucose levels after meals, preventing hyperglycemia.

By increasing the permeability of the cell membranes to glucose and enhancing glycogen synthesis, insulin plays a central role in the regulation of energy balance within the body. When blood sugar levels rise after eating, insulin secretion increases to help manage this surge in glucose, thereby maintaining homeostasis.

The other hormones mentioned do not have this glucose-lowering function. Glucagon, for example, works conversely to insulin by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream when blood sugar levels are low. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can actually increase blood glucose levels during stress responses. Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) is involved in the fight-or-flight response and also promotes an increase in blood glucose levels by facilitating the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.