B3 - Sugar Control

Question 1

What organ monitors and controls blood glucose concentration?

Answer 1

Pancreas

Question 2

Which hormones control blood sugar levels?

Answer 2

Insulin

Glucagon

Question 3

How does insulin work?

Answer 3

The glucose concentration of the blood rises and the receptors in the pancreas are stimulated. The pancreas produces insulin which allows glucose from the blood to move into body cells and store the sugar as glycogen. The blood glucose levels then fall.

Question 4

How does glucagon work?

Answer 4

The glucose concentration of the blood is too low and the receptors in the pancreas detect a fall and the pancreas releases glucagon. This travels to the liver which is then stimulated to break down all the stored glycogen back into glucose so the blood glucose level then rises.

Question 5

Why doesn’t glycogen cause blood sugar levels to rise?

Answer 5

It is insoluble. Glucose is soluble so would dissolve in the blood.

Question 6

What is diabetes?

Answer 6

Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas makes no insulin. This means if you eat sugary foods then your blood sugar concentration can increase too much.

Question 7

How can type 1 diabetes be treated?

Answer 7

Insulin hormone can be eaten and care can be taken with diet not to eat sugary foods. Regular exercise is also good treatment.