[16.4] diabetes and its control

Question 1

what is diabetes?

Answer 1

a metabolic disorder caused by an inability to control blood glucose concentration due to a lack of insulin or a loss of responsiveness to insulin

Question 2

what are the 2 types of diabetes?

Answer 2

• type 1 (insulin dependent)
• type 2 (insulin independent)

Question 3

what causes type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

autoimmune condition whereby the immune system destroys β cells of islets of langerhans preventing the production of insulin

Question 4

what causes type 2 diabetes?

Answer 4

• glycoprotein receptors on cells lose their responsiveness to insulin
• inadequate supply of insulin from the pancreas

Question 5

describe the differences between the 2 types of diabetes (3)

Answer 5

• 1 normally begins in childhood, 2 usually develops 40+
• 1 develops quickly (usually over a few weeks), 2 develops slowly
• 1’s signs and symptoms are normally obvious, 2 has less severe symptoms which may go unnoticed

Question 6

what are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

Answer 6

• high blood glucose concentration
• presence of glucose in urine
• need to urinate excessively
• genital itching
• regular episodes of thrush
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• tiredness
• increased thirst and hunger

Question 7

why is tiredness / weight loss a sign of diabetes?

Answer 7

• decreased respiration rate
• glucose remains in cells so cellular respiration drops
• other stores are used up

Question 8

why is thirst / need to urinate excessively a sign of diabetes?

Answer 8

• glucose dissolved in blood plasma makes the water potential more negative
• water moves from body’s cells and tissues into the bloodstream via osmosis
• excess is drained into urine production
• more water is lost so more is needed to replace it

Question 9

how is type 1 diabetes treated?

Answer 9

• injections of insulin 2-4 times a day matched precisely o a person’s glucose intake
• blood glucose level can be monitored with biosensors
• pancreas transplant is an option
• managing carbohydrate intake and exercise

Question 10

how is type 2 diabetes treated?

Answer 10

• regulating intake of carbohydrate matched to amount of exercise taken
• drugs which slow down rate at which body absorbs glucose from intestine