Controlling blood glucose

• Q: Why must blood glucose levels be kept within a certain limit?


  A: Glucose is needed by cells for respiration.
• Q: Which organ controls blood glucose levels?


  A: The pancreas.
• Q: What happens to blood glucose levels after eating carbohydrate-rich foods?


  A: They increase.
• Q: What does the pancreas do when blood glucose levels are too high?


  A: The pancreas produces the hormone insulin.
• Q: What does insulin do in target organs (muscles and liver)?


  1. Glucose to move from the blood into muscle cells for respiration 2) Excess glucose to be converted into glycogen which is stored in the liver
  2. ● The blood glucose concentration is reduced
• Q: What happens to blood glucose levels after insulin is released?


  A: The blood glucose concentration is reduced.
• Q: What happens to blood glucose levels during rigorous exercise?


  A: Glucose is used for respiration, decreasing blood glucose levels.
• Q: What does the pancreas do when blood glucose levels are too low?


  A: The pancreas produces the hormone glucagon.
• Q: What does glucagon do in the liver?


  A: Glucagon causes glycogen to break down into glucose, which is released into the blood.
• Q: What is the overall effect of glucagon?


  A: It increases blood glucose concentration.
• Q: How do insulin and glucagon maintain constant blood glucose levels?


  Q: How do insulin and glucagon maintain constant blood glucose levels?
• Q: Why doesn’t the action of one hormone occur continually in the negative feedback loop?


  A: When blood glucose reaches a certain concentration, the opposite hormone is produced, balancing the effect.
• Q: What is Type 1 diabetes?


  A: A condition where the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, causing blood glucose levels to rise dangerously high.
• Q: What are the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes?


  • High blood glucose levels
  • Glucose excreted in urine
  • Increased thirst and excessive urine production
• Q: How is Type 1 diabetes treated?

  • Insulin injections at meal times
  • Limiting intake of simple carbohydrates
  • Experimental treatments include pancreas transplants and genetically engineered pancreatic cells.
• What is Type 2 diabetes?


  A: A condition where body cells no longer respond to insulin, leading to high blood glucose levels.
• Q: What is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes?


  Obesity
• Q: How is Type 2 diabetes treated?


  • Reducing simple carbohydrates in diet
  • Losing weight and increasing exercise
  • Using drugs to:
  • Make insulin more effective
  • Help the pancreas produce more insulin
  • Reduce glucose absorption from the gut