controlling blood sugar

• what is glucose a type of?

  Energy store
• what do chemical reactions transfer?

  Energy from glucose to ATP which is then used by cells, this allows them to perform normal body functions and to remain healthy it is important that blood sugar (glucose) levels are kept constant
• what happens to blood sugar levels after you eat?

  Glucose released by digestion passes into the bloodstream which causes blood sugar levels to rise, if this is maintained over a long period of time then body systems can be damaged, especially nerves and blood vessels
• what is a danger of exercise after not eating much?

  More glucose is needed as the body needs to transfer more energy, which causes your blood sugar levels to drop. this can also prevent your cells from respiring effectively
• what is insulin and how does it work?

  If blood sugar levels are too high, this is detected by the pancreas which releases the hormone insulin. it travels in the blood to the liver and stimulates the liver to turn glucose into glycogen by a series of enzyme controlled reactions. glycogen is then stored in the liver and as there is now less glucose in the blood, the blood sugar level falls
• what happens when glucose levels are too low?

  The pancreas releases another hormone called glucagon, which makes the liver turn glycogen back into glucose which is then released into the blood and increases blood sugar levels
• what do glucagon and insulin maintain?

  A constant blood sugar level
• when does glucagon work?

  Low blood sugar
• when does insulin work?

  High blood sugar
• what happens when someone has diabetes?

  Blood sugar levels remain high, diabetes is not curable but can be controlled successfully
• what are the 2 types of diabetes?

  Type 1 and Type 2
• when does type 1 diabetes begin?

  Childhood
• what happens to someone with type 1 diabetes?

  They cannot produce insulin as the persons immune system has destroyed the pancreatic cells that make insulin.
• how is type 1 diabetes controlled?

  regular injections of insulin, a type 1 diabetic should eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly
• what happens to someone with type 2 diabetes?

  They cannot effectively use insulin, their cells do not produce enough insulin or the body cells do not respond properly to insulin.
• what is type 2 diabetes linked to?

  obesity, normally occurs later in life
• how is type 2 diabetes controlled?

  Regulating a persons carbohydrate intake through their diet and matching this to their exercise levels, overweight people are also encouraged to lose weight and in some cases drugs are used to stimulate insulin production or insulin injections are given
• what are 2 differences between type one and type two diabetes?

  people who have type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin, people who have type 2 diabetes cannot use insulin effectively

  type 1 diabetes normally begins in childhood but type 2 diabetes normally occurs later in life and is linked to obesity
• why do insulin levels remain low overnight?

  Not much glucose is in the body due to not eating much which means not as much insulin is needed