All of the following are functions of insulin, EXCEPT:

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The correct answer identifies an action that is contrary to insulin's primary role. Insulin's main function is to lower blood glucose and promote energy storage.
Insulin inhibits glycogenolysis, which is the breakdown of glycogen into glucose. It does not increase it.
The hormone that increases glycogenolysis is glucagon, which is a counter-regulatory hormone to insulin.
Therefore, 'Increases glycogenolysis' is the correct exception as it is not a function of insulin.

Option A: This is a primary function of insulin. Insulin promotes the conversion of excess glucose into fatty acids and their storage in adipose tissue, a process known as lipogenesis.
Option B: This is a key function of insulin. It stimulates the synthesis of glycogen from glucose (glycogenesis) in the liver and muscles for storage.
Option D: This is a crucial function of insulin. It suppresses the production of new glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (gluconeogenesis) in the liver, which helps lower blood glucose levels.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Metabolic functions of insulin as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding insulin's functions is fundamental for managing diabetes mellitus. In Type 1 diabetes, the absence of insulin leads to unchecked glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, causing severe hyperglycemia.
In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the lack of insulin's inhibitory effect on lipolysis leads to excessive fatty acid breakdown and ketone body formation, resulting in life-threatening acidosis.
What if the question asked for the functions of glucagon? The answer would be the opposite: glucagon increases glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis while having minimal effect on lipogenesis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept: the functions of the hormone insulin.
Note the keyword 'EXCEPT'. This means you are looking for the option that is FALSE or not a function of insulin.
Recall the primary role of insulin: it is an anabolic (building-up) hormone released when blood glucose is high. Its job is to lower blood glucose by promoting its storage.
Evaluate each option against this primary role.
A) Increases lipogenesis (fat storage) - This aligns with insulin's storage function.
B) Increases glycogenesis (glycogen storage) - This aligns with insulin's storage function.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Metabolic functions of insulin
Stem keywords: insulin, functions
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the statement that is NOT a function of insulin.

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Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.