4.5.3.2 Control of Blood Glucose Concentration

Question 1

How is blood glucose concentration monitored and controlled?

Answer 1

• by pancreas

Question 2

What happens if the blood glucose concentration is too high?

Answer 2

• pancreas produces insulin (hormone)
  -insulin causes glucose to move from blood into cells

Question 3

What do the liver and muscle cells convert excess glucose into?

Answer 3

• glycogen for storage

Question 4

What are the effects of low glucose?

Answer 4

• pancreas: insulin not secreted enough
• liver: does not convert glucose into glycogen
• blood glucose level: increases

Question 5

What are the effects of high glucose?

Answer 5

• pancreas: insulin secreted into the blood
• liver: converts glucose into glycogen
• blood glucose level: decreases

Question 6

How does insulin control blood glucose (sugar) levels if too high?

Answer 6

• insulin sends signal to liver, muscles and other cells to store excess glucose
• some is stored as body fat, other as glycogen

Question 7

How does insulin control blood glucose (sugar) levels if too low?

Answer 7

• liver receives message to release some of store glucose into blood
• change is brought about by glucagon (hormone) as it causes glycogen to be converted into glucose (produced by pancreas)

Question 8

What is diabetes?

Answer 8

• condition where blood glucose levels remain too high
• can be treated by insulin

Question 9

What is type 1 diabetes?

Answer 9

• disorder in which pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin

Question 10

How is type 1 diabetes characterised?

Answer 10

• uncontrolled high blood glucose levels

Question 11

What do people with type 1 diabetes have to monitor?

Answer 11

• blood sugar levels throughout the day

Question 12

What can affect the amount of insulin needed in someone who has type 1 diabetes?

Answer 12

• physical activity
• diet

Question 13

How is type 1 diabetes treated/controlled?

Answer 13

• insulin injections
• being careful with diet
• eat foods that will not cause a large increase
• exercise (increased respiration)

Question 14

What is type 2 diabetes?

Answer 14

• body cells no longer responding to insulin produced by pancreas

Question 15

How can type 2 diabetes be treated/controlled?

Answer 15

• carbohydrate controlled diet (carbohydrate digested into glucose which raises level)
• exercise regime