Diabetes

• Insulin


  Found in the pancreas in the beta cells
• Insulin


  • Promotes glucose uptake into the cell
  • Is a hormone
• Insulin action


  1. Insulin binds to the receptor of the cell

  2. Signals the cell

  3. Recruits the transporter which moves into the membrane of the cell

  4. Opens a channel in the membrane for the glucose to enter the cell
• Type 1 Diabetes


  • Insulin dependent (little/none produced)
  • Immune system attacks beta cells in the pancreas
• Fasting plasma glucose >7 mmol/L is a diagnostic criteria for Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes


  • Non-insulin dependent
  • Cells aren't responding to insulin
  • Associated with obesity
• Cause of Type 2 Diabetes

  1. Excess fats → Beta cell dysfunction → Reduced insulin secretion

  2. Fatty acid accumulation in the muscle cytoplasm (stop cell signaling)
• Type 2 Diabetes has a slow onset and has a genetic component
• Hyperglycaemia (glucose in the blood)


  Cells starved of glucose, leading to increased gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, lipolysis
• Lack of oxaloacetate due to increased gluconeogenesis


  Leads to build up of acetyl CoA from fatty acids
• Build up of acetyl CoA

  Increases cholesterol, ketone bodies produced, protein broken down
• Increased blood glucose


  Increased urine production, increased thirst