Insulin’s management of blood sugar
serves a very important function, as
chronically elevated blood glucose levels are
highly damaging to many body systems,
including the liver, pancreas, kidneys, blood
vessels, brain and peripheral nerves. Got that?
Chronically high levels of blood sugar
(hyperglycemia) are harmful, so managing
blood sugar is critical for long-term health.Once cells have taken glucose out of the
bloodstream, that glucose can either be used
for energy or stored for future use. The
primary place to store glucose is in the liver
and muscles, as a complex carbohydrate
called glycogen. If stored in the liver,
glycogen can easily be converted back into
glucose and released back into the
bloodstream when energy is needed. However,
glycogen stored in muscle cells can’t be