Controlling the blood glucose concentration

• What should blood glucose concentration be between?

  4 to 8 mmol dm³
• What happens if blood glucose levels are too low?

  Cells lack glucose for respiration
• What occurs if blood glucose levels are too high?

  Water potential of blood is disrupted
• What are the long-term consequences of diabetes on the brain?

  It can affect functional connectivity and cause atrophy
• What can high blood glucose levels lead to in terms of blood flow?

  It can lead to small vessel disease
• What is glycogenolysis?

  Breaking glycogen into glucose
• What is glycogenesis?

  Making glycogen from glucose
• What is gluconeogenesis?

  Making new glucose from non-carbohydrates
• When does blood glucose concentration increase?

  When carbohydrates are absorbed in the blood
• What happens to glycogen stores in the liver during blood glucose increase?

  They are broken down through glycogenolysis
• What causes blood glucose levels to decrease during exercise?

  Increased respiration in muscles uses more glucose
• How does the liver respond when glucose levels are too high?

  The liver removes glucose and converts it to glycogen
• What effect does alcohol have on blood glucose levels?

  It prevents the liver from producing glucose
• What controls blood glucose concentration?

  The endocrine system
• Where are receptors for blood glucose concentration located?

  In the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
• What hormones are secreted by the pancreas to control blood glucose?

  Insulin and glucagon
• What role do liver, muscle, and fat cells play in blood glucose regulation?

  They act as effectors in response to hormones
• What type of glands secrete hormones without ducts?

  Endocrine glands
• What type of glands secrete hormones with ducts?

  Exocrine glands
• What do islets of Langerhans contain?

  Alpha and beta cells
• What do alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete?

  Glucagon
• What do beta cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete?

  Insulin
• What happens when blood glucose concentration is too high?

  Beta cells detect the increase and secrete insulin
• How does insulin affect glucose transport into cells?

  It increases the permeability of cells to glucose
• What happens when blood glucose concentration is low?

  Alpha cells secrete glucagon
• What does glucagon binding activate in the liver?

  Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
• What is the purpose of the Benedict's test?

  To test for glucose
• What indicates a positive result in the Benedict's test?

  Brick red color
• What is the purpose of the Biuret test?

  To test for protein
• What indicates a positive result in the Biuret test?

  Purple color