The Role of Insulin in Glucose Utilization

Insulin is absolutely vital for glucose utilization. It allows cells to uptake glucose from the actual cellular to the intracellular environment and we know that insulin normally inhibits lipolysis. Insulin also inhibits the release of counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon. And alongside this it reduces levels of two big words coming up, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. DKA results from an absolute deficiency or on occasions a severe relative deficiency of insulin. But that's accompanied by an excess of counter regulatory hormones because they're no longer being inhibited so we get a rise in glucagon, cortisol, catacolamines and growth hormones.