Controlling Blood Glucose

• Blood glucose is also controlled as part of homeostasis. Insulin and glucogen are the two hormones involved
• Insulin and glucagon control blood and glucose level
• Eating foods containing carbohydrate puts glucose into the blood from the gut. The normal metabolism of cells removes glucose from the blood. Vigorous exercise removes much more glucose from the blood
• Excess glucose can be stored as glycogen in the liver and in the muscles
• The level of glucose in the blood must be kept steady. Changes are monitored and controlled by the pancreas, using the hormones insulin and glucagon, in a negative feedback cycle
• Blood glucose level is too high - insulin is added

  • Insulin is secreted by the pancreas into the bloodstream containing too much glucose
  • The insulin moves itself and the glucose into liver and muscle cells
  • Insulin makes the liver turn glucose into glycogen and the blood's glucose level has been reduced

  
• Blood glucose is too low - glucagon is added

  • Glucagon is secreted by the pancrease into the bloodstream containing too little glucose
  • The glucagon moves through the bloodstream into the liver which turns glucagon into glucose
  • Glucose is released into the blood by the liver and blood glucose is increased

  
• Insulin removes glucose from the blood
• With diabetes, you can't control your blood sugar level
• Diabetes is a condition that affects your ability to control your blood sugar level. There are 2 types
• Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas produces little or no insulin. This means a person's blood glucose level can rise to a level that can kill them
• People with type 1 diabetes need insulin therapy - this usually involves several injections of insulin throughout the day, most likely at mealtimes. This makes sure that glucose is removed from the blood quickly once the food has been digested, stopping the level getting too high
• Insulin therapy is a very effective treatment
• The amount of insulin that needs to be injected depends on the person's diet and how active they are
• As well as insulin therapy, people with type 1 diabetes need to think about limiting the intake of food rich in simple carbohydrates, e.g. sugars (which cause the blood glucose level to rise rapidly) and taking regular exercise (which helps to remove excess glucose from the blood)
• Type 2 diabetes is where a person becomes resistant to their own insulin . This can also cause a person's blood sugar level to rise to a dangerous level
• Being overweight can increase your change of developing type 2 diabetes, as obesity is a major risk factor in the development of the disease
• Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by eating a carbohydrate-controlled diet and getting regular exercise