Control of Blood Glucose Concentration

• What organ monitors and controls blood glucose concentration?

  Pancreas
• What type of gland is the pancreas?

  Endocrine gland
• What role does the pancreas play in digestion?

  Secreting enzymes into the digestive system
• Why is blood glucose concentration important?

  It must be kept within a narrow range
• What is homeostasis?

  Maintaining a stable internal environment
• What happens when foods containing carbohydrates are eaten?

  Blood glucose levels increase
• What hormone does the pancreas produce when blood glucose is too high?

  Insulin
• What effect does high blood glucose have on body cells?

  Cells lose water by osmosis
• What does insulin stimulate in the body?

  Cells to take in glucose
• Which cells particularly take in glucose when stimulated by insulin?

  Liver and muscle cells
• What is excess glucose converted into for storage in liver and muscle cells?

  Glycogen
• What is glycogen a polymer of?

  Glucose
• What are the key functions of the pancreas related to blood glucose control?

  • Monitors blood glucose concentration
  • Produces insulin when glucose is high
  • Stimulates glucose uptake by cells
  • Converts excess glucose to glycogen for storage
• What is Type 1 diabetes?

  A disorder with insufficient insulin production
• Why do scientists think Type 1 diabetes occurs?

  Due to the immune system destroying pancreatic cells
• What characterizes Type 1 diabetes?

  Uncontrolled high blood glucose levels
• How is Type 1 diabetes typically treated?

  With insulin injections
• What happens in Type 2 diabetes regarding insulin response?

  Body cells no longer respond to insulin
• What is the difference between insulin production in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

  Type 1 has insufficient insulin; Type 2 has normal insulin
• What can uncontrolled high blood glucose levels lead to in Type 2 diabetes?

  Similar uncontrolled high blood glucose levels
• What are common treatments for Type 2 diabetes?

  Carbohydrate-controlled diet and exercise
• What is a significant risk factor for Type 2 diabetes?

  Obesity
• Why might obesity lead to Type 2 diabetes?

  Obese individuals may consume high carbohydrate diets
• How does over-production of insulin relate to Type 2 diabetes?

  It results in resistance to insulin developing
• What hormone does the pancreas produce when blood glucose is too low?

  Glucagon
• What effect does glucagon have on glycogen?

  It converts glycogen into glucose
• How do glucagon and insulin interact in blood glucose control?

  They form a negative feedback cycle
• When is insulin produced in the body?

  When blood glucose rises
• What is the role of insulin in blood glucose regulation?

  It stimulates conversion of glucose to glycogen
• What triggers the production of glucagon?

  When blood glucose falls too low
• What happens to blood glucose levels when insulin is produced?

  They decrease
• What does glucagon stimulate in liver and muscle cells?

  Conversion of glycogen into glucose
• What is the effect of glucagon on blood glucose levels?

  It increases blood glucose levels
• What are the key components of the negative feedback cycle controlling blood glucose levels?

  • Glucagon: produced when glucose is low
  • Insulin: produced when glucose is high
  • Glucagon converts glycogen to glucose
  • Insulin converts glucose to glycogen
• What is glucagon?

  Glucagon is the hormone
• What is glycogen?

  Glycogen is the polysaccharide glucose is stored as
• What is the state of glucose in water?

  Soluble
• What is the state of glycogen in water?

  Insoluble
• Which organ releases the hormone insulin?

  Pancreas
• What is the role of insulin in the body?

  Stimulates cells to take up glucose