control of blood glucose

• how does the body control blood glucose concentration?

  • blood glucose is monitored by the pancreas
  • insulin allows glucose to move from the blood into cells, allowing glucose to be converted into glycogen in the liver
  • glucagon converts glycogen stored in the liver back into glucose
• what happens when glucose levels are too high?

  • the pancreas secretes insulin which moves glucose from the blood into the liver and cells
• what happens when glucose level is too low?

  • pancreas secretes glucagon which makes thee liver turn glycogen into glucose which is released into the blood by the liver
• what is type one diabetes?

  • the pancreas produces little or no insulin
  • blood glucose may rise to a fatal level
  • requires insulin therapy which consists of taking injections of insulin throughout the day
  • the amount injected depends on the persons diet and how active they are
• what is type two diabetes?

  • your body cells stop responding to insulin
  • caused by obesity or a poor lifestyle or old age
  • it is cured by maintaining a balanced diet, doing regular exercise, losing weight or medical drugs
• how to cure type one diabetes?

  • pancreas transplant - there is np need to take insulin but you must take immunosuppressants
  • transporting insulin making pancreatic cells - limited success rate so far