Control of Glucose Levels

• how are blood glucose levels regulated

  insulin & glucagon help keep a person's blood sugars levels in a healthy range
• what organ monitors glucose levels

  pancreas

  -releases hormones when there are changes in blood glucose levels
• when there is a high glucose concentration

  -insulin is produced

  -signals to the liver, muscles, & fat to absorb glucose from the blood and store it in the cells as glycogen (long-term way to store glucose)
• when there is a low glucose concentration

  -glucagon is produced

  -is released into the bloodstream to signal cells (mainly liver) to break down the glycogen into glucose & release it into the bloodstream
• diseases related to blood sugar levels

  1. diabetes (unable to produce insulin)
  2. hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
  3. hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• type 1 diabetes

  occurs: childhood or teenage years

  -is lifelong

  • the pancreas produces little to no insulin
• treatment for type 1 diabetes

  -inject the person with insulin

  amount of insulin required depends on what they've eaten & amount of exercise done

  • more sugar/carbohydrates = more insulin
  • more exercise = less insulin (causes muscles to absorb more glucose)
• type 2 diabetes

  occurs: in old people with unhealthy diets

  -cells become resistant to insulin, and no longer respond to the hormone

  -cells no longer absorb glucose from the bloodstream
• treatments for type 2 diabetes

  -eat a healthy, low-sugar diet

  -exercise regularly
• dangers of irregular glucose levels

  • can make a person feel ill
  • potentially lead to death (rare)