Why do insulin levels rise in the body following a meal, and what effects does the insulin have?

a) Why do insulin levels rise? After we have eaten, the carbohydrates in the food are broken down to glucose, which is absorbed in our intestines. This means that the level of glucose in our blood rises after a meal. The increased level of glucose in the blood stimulates cells in the pancreas to release insulin into the blood. This type of cell is called a beta cell, and it both produces and releases insulin. b) Insulin's function in the body is to stabilize the level of glucose in our blood. When it is released following a meal, it has several effects on the body. Insulin stimulates several parts of the body to take up glucose, including fat tissue, the liver and muscle. Once the glucose has been taken up by the body, it can either be used immediately for energy, or converted to glycogen, which allows the body to store the energy for later. In this way, insulin brings our blood glucose levels down and back to normal after a meal, and allows the glucose to be used for energy in the body.