gert42

Pancreas Potassium Insulin Relationship What does insulin do to potassium and what does potassium do to insulin secretion is a concept that is frequently tested in USMLE Step 1. Insulin causes Potassium to shift into the cells thereby decreasing the extracellular K level. That's why insulin is used in the treatment of hyperkalemia. Level of Potassium in the serum also affects insulin secretion from the pancreas. Because the beta cells have an ATP dependent K channel which is when closed leads to retained K inside the beta cell which favors depolarization thereby enhancing Calcium mediated release of secretory granules. Therefore, in hyperkalemia more K will enter the beta cell and insulin secretion will increase and conversely in hypokalemia the K ions are more likely to leave the beta cell and so insulin secretion will decrease. Ahmed-USMLE USMLE Forums Scout

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