BIO

• Glucose


  Primary source of energy for cells from food (especially carbohydrates)
• Glycogen


  Stored form of glucose in liver, energy reserve for body - short and long term
• Glucagon


  Stimulate liver to convert glycogen to glucose and release into bloodstream, hormone, increases BGL
• Insulin


  Regulate homeostatic glucose levels (reduce high BGL), hormone, promotes glycogenesis, inhibits gluconeogenesis in liver to prevent high blood glucose
• Lack of/resistance to insulin = glucose cannot enter cells = glucose in blood stream = high BGL
• Diabetes mellitus


  Characterised by hyperglycemia, non-infectious, pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (hormone), or body cannot effectively use insulin that has produced
• Types of Diabetes


  • Type 1
  • Type 2
  • Gestational
• Type 1 Diabetes


  Autoimmune disorder: T lymphocytes attack and destroy insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells = insulin isn't produced to lower BGL, genetics can play a role, often diagnosed in childhood, requires daily administration of insulin
• Type 2 Diabetes


  Metabolic disorder, insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion - pancreas does not produce enough insulin to lower BGL, lifestyle factors (obesity, sedentary), can be preventable, symptoms take several years to be noticed
• Gestational Diabetes


  Pregnancy (24th-28th week), hyperglycemia with blood glucose values above normal but below diagnostic of diabetes, hormonal changes leading to insulin resistance - if pancreas does not produce enough insulin then BGL rises, increased risk of complications (pregnancy + delivery), increased risk of type 2 diabetes (woman + child), resolves after birth, but can recur in later pregnancies and increase Type 2 Diabetes risk