Explain how the body responds to restore normal blood glucose concentration after a meal containing a large amount of carbohydrates.

Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) — 7.2 Homeostasis · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

After eating a meal rich in carbohydrates, blood glucose concentration rises above the normal level. The body must respond to return blood glucose concentration to its set point.

Model answer (4 marks)

The pancreas senses the increased blood glucose and releases insulin.
Insulin binds to receptors on liver and muscle cells, stimulating glucose uptake from the blood.
In the liver, insulin promotes glycogenesis, converting the excess glucose into glycogen.
The rise in cellular glucose uptake and storage lowers the blood glucose level back to the normal set point, restoring homeostasis.

Examiner tips

Use the word ‘insulin’ and ‘pancreas’ – the mark scheme recognises these key terms. Show the sequence: detection → insulin release → uptake → glycogenesis → fall in glucose. Keep the answer short and to the point – 4 marks allow one sentence per point.
Use the exact terminology: ‘glycogenesis’ not ‘glucose storage’.
Mention the set point explicitly – it demonstrates understanding of homeostasis.

Common mistakes

Writing ‘glucose is taken up by the cells’ without linking it to insulin. Forgetting to mention the pancreas or insulin. Using vague terms like ‘the body reacts’ instead of specific mechanisms.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose concentration and secretes insulin
Insulin causes liver and muscle cells to increase their uptake of glucose from the blood
Insulin causes the conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver (glycogenesis)
Blood glucose concentration falls back to the normal / set point level, restoring homeostasis

Key terms in this question

blood glucose concentration