B3.3.2 Controlling Blood Sugar

Question 1

Where does glucose come from?

Answer 1

Foods containing carbohydrates put glucose into small intestine which puts glucose into blood

Question 2

What happens to glucose?

Answer 2

Chemical reactions transfer energy from glucose to ATP
ATP used by cells
Cells perform normal bodily functions

Question 3

What happens after eating?

Answer 3

Glucose released by digestion passes into blood stream
—> blood sugar levels rise
—>body systems can be damaged eg. Nerves and blood vessels

Question 4

What happens after exercise?

Answer 4

More energy is needed for body to transfer more energy
—>blood sugar levels drop
—> prevents cells from respiring effectively

Question 5

Eats meal flow

Answer 5

Eats meal
—> blood glucose rises
—> detected by pancreas
—> pancreas releases insulin
—> insulin travels in blood to liver
—> insulin stimulates liver to turn glucose into glycogen
—> glycogen stored in liver = less glucose in blood

Question 6

After exercise flow

Answer 6

Exercises
—> blood glucose level falls
—> fall detected by pancreas
—>pancreas releases glucagon 
—> glucagon   Makes liver change glycogen into glucose
—> glucose released into blood
—> blood glucose levels rise

Question 7

What is diabetes?

Answer 7

When blood sugar levels remain high

Condition is not curable but controllable

Question 8

Type 1 diabetes

Answer 8

• can not produce insulin as immune system destroyed pancreatic cells that make insulin
• hereditary/begins in childhood
• controlled by regular injections of insulin, balanced diet, regular exercise

Question 9

Type 2 diabetes

Answer 9

• cannot effectively use insulin as cells don’t produce/respond to insulin
• occurs later in life and is linked to obesity
• controlled by regulating carbohydrate intake/diet, exercise, drugs to stimulate insulin production, or insulin injections

Question 10

What is glucagon?

Answer 10

Released by pancreas when blood sugar is too low

Question 11

What is glycogen?

Answer 11

Storage form of glucose in liver

Question 12

What happens to glucose?

Answer 12

Normal metabolism or cells remove glucose from blood and exercise removes a lot more glucose from blood.
Excess glucose is stored as glycogen in liver and muscles
When these energy stores are full excess glucose is stored as lipid (fats) In the tissues

Question 13

What are glucagon and insulin?

Answer 13

Hormones secreted by pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels