4.5 - Hormones That Affect Blood Sugar Flashcards
1
Q
What is the purpose of the pancreas?
A
To produce digestive enzymes and hormones that are required to regulate blood sugar levels
2
Q
What are the islets of Langerhans?
[eye-lit]
A
- these are cluster cells that produce hormones from the pancreas
- contain beta cells that make insulin
- contain alpha cells that produce glucagon
3
Q
What is insulin?
4.5
A
- a hormone that makes cells more permeable to glucose
- glucose will diffuse into the cells when blood sugar levels get too high. It is then used to produce energy or store it as glycogen
- insulin lowers blood sugar levels
4
Q
What is Glucagon?
4.5
A
- unused glucose is stored as the polysaccaride, glycogen
- the hormone, glucagon, stimulates the liver to convert glycogen back to glucose
- it raises blood sugar levels
5
Q
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
A
- when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cells no longer respond to insulin
- without inslin, cells are unable to absorb enough glucose to meet energy needs
- caused by problems with insulin
- glucose ends up in the urine b/c it’s not taken by the cells
- H2O is excreated with glucose, meaning frequent urination
- it also causes fatigue as cells aren’t taking up glucose = less avaliable energy
6
Q
What is type 1 diabetes?
What is its treatment?
A
- the pancreas doesn’t release enough insulin
- auto-immune disease when the immune system attacks the pancreas for an unknow reason
-Treatment: injection of insulin into the blood stream
7
Q
What is type 2 diabetes?
What is its treatment?
A
- occurs when cells do not respond to the insulin signal
- known as insulin resistance
- unknown reasons as to why this occurs
- there are confimed links of type 2 diabetes to poor diet and obesity
8
Q
What is diabetes insipidus?
A
It is caused by problems with ADH (anit-diuretic hormone)
9
Q
What does hyperglycemia refer to?
A
When blood suagr levels are above normal
10
Q
What does hypoglycemia refer to?
A
When blood sugar levels are below normal
