Blood Glucose Metabolism

Question 1

What is the relationship between blood glucose and insulin levels?

Answer 1

-As blood glucose levels rise, more insulin is released

Question 2

Insulin

Answer 2

• High blood glucose levels&raquo_space; stimulates beta cells in pancreas to secrete more insulin&raquo_space; insulin stimulates body cells to take up glucose from the blood
• Liver cells and muscle cells take up glucose and use it to form glycogen, which they store
• Insulin also stimulates cells to metabolize the glucose for immediate energy use, storage of fats, or synthesize of proteins
• Blood glucose falls&raquo_space; bets cells lose their stimulus to secret insulin

Question 3

What is the role of the pancreas, liver, cells of body in blood glucose regulation and metabolism? 


Answer 3

-The pancreas releases glucagon when blood glucose levels are low, which causes the liver to release glucose into the blood. The pancreas releases insulin when blood glucose levels are too high, causing the liver and body cells to absorb glucose

Question 4

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus – causes, symptoms, treatments? 


Answer 4

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where white blood cells destroy the pancreas’ beta cells, which make insulin
• Cause: genetic, viruses
• Glucose builds up in the blood
• Usually develops during childhood, and treatments consist of several injections of insulin per day

Question 5

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus – causes, symptoms, treatments?

Answer 5

• Type 2 diabetes is where cells do not respond to insulin in the blood
• They do not absorb glucose as well
• Developed later in life, and associated with being overweight and inactive
• Treated with regular exercise, medications, and and a diet consisting of soluble fiber, and low in fat and sodium

Question 6

How is diabetes diagnosed? How can the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) help? 


Answer 6

• Diagnosed by measuring higher than average glucose levels in the blood after eating
• A patient drinks a solution high in glucose, and levels of glucose in the blood are measured every 30 minutes for 2 hours

Question 7

What are hyper- and hypo-glycemia? What happens when someone develops insulin-resistance? 


Answer 7

• HYPOglycemia is when beta cells put too much insulin into the blood, so blood glucose levels drop BELOW normal
• HYPERglycemia is the opposite

Question 8

Glycemic index: What does it measure? What kinds of foods are high glycemic index? Low?

Answer 8

• A measure of how quickly carbohydrates are digested
• Low (< 55, includes dairy and vegetables)
• Medium (56-69 some grains and starches, low amount of other foods)
• High (> 70 many grains and starches)

Question 9

How can knowledge of food glycemic index help someone maintain relatively constant blood glucose levels and prevent type 2 diabetes?

Answer 9

-Eating foods low in glycemic index and exercising can prevent high blood glucose

Question 10

Glucagon

Answer 10

-Low blood glucose levels&raquo_space; alpha cells in pancreas respond by secreting more glucagon&raquo_space; glucagon signals liver cells to break glycogen down into glucose&raquo_space; release glucose into the blood