Diabetes Flashcards
What cells secrete insulin and where?
- beta cells
- pancreas
Glucagon is secreted by which cells and where?
- alpha cells
- pancreas
Where does glucose homeostasis predominantly occur?
Liver
Insulin and Glucagon graph: label which lines are dietary glucose, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis.
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Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose and
suppresses gluconeogenesis
In the fed state:
insulin:
glucagon:
- insulin is high
- glucagon is low
In the fasting state:
insulin:
glucagon:
- insulin is low
- glucagon is high
Insulin and Glucagon
insert graph
Hypoglycaemia
- defined as blood glucose levels
<3.5mmol/L
Hypoglycaemia symptoms:
- sweating
- tremor
- nervousness
- palpitations
- hunger due to the release of counter-
regulatory hormones such as adrenaline
and glucagon
Due to lack of glucose supply to the brain:
Neuroglycopenic symptoms:
- confusion
- drowsiness
- slurred speech
- poor coordination
- irritability
- seizures
Which set of patients are prone to hypoglycaemic unawareness?
insulin dependent diabetics
Causes of hypoglycaemia (5):
- insulinoma (insulin producing tumour in
the pancreas) - hypoadrenalism (reduction of
glucocorticoids0 - alcohol
- severe liver failure
- insulin or sulphonylureas
Management of hypoglycaemia:
- eat/drink sugar
- hypostop
- IV dextrose 20% 75mL
- IM glucagon 1mg if IV not available
Diabetes Mellitus
- problem in controlling blood sugar levels
due to the dysregulation of insulin and
glucagon - too little glucose in cells results in a
reduction of carb metabolism and reduced
ATP production
Insulin effect on blood glucose
- decreases blood glucose
- by increasing glucose absorption into cells
and out of plasma
