Diabetes

Question 1

Type 1 diabetes

Answer 1

Autoimmune disease
Pancreas unable to produce insulin as beta cells attacked by immune system
Without insulin, body cannot convert glucose to energy

Question 2

Type 2 diabetes

Answer 2

Body does not respond to insulin effectively + becomes resistant + ineffective at managing blood glucose levels.
Pancreas increases production of insulin but overproduces + soon loses ability to produce adequate insulin.

Question 3

Glucose Tolerance Test

Answer 3

Blood test carried out to measure how quickly glucose is cleared from bloodstream
Taken before, 1, + 2 hrs after drinking a concentrated glucose solution made with 75g sugar + with fasting beforehand
Prediabetes diagnosed if levels exceed 140 mg/dL

Question 4

Who is at greatest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes?

Answer 4

Obese/overweight, family history, ethnic background, over 45 yrs old

Question 5

What happens if blood glucose too low?

Answer 5

Hypoglycemia
Shakiness, anxiousness, cold sweats, confusion, + dizziness.

Question 6

What happens if blood glucose too high?

Answer 6

Hyperglycemia
Excessive thirst, blurred vision, fatigue, poor concentration, nerve damage, + weight loss.

Question 7

Why is using animal insulin debated?

Answer 7

Ethics + morality
Disadvantaged peak time, acting 3-4 hrs after injecting

Question 8

How can GM microorganisms be used to produce human insulin?

Answer 8

Gene for insulin in humans can be added to genes in E. Coli bacteria to form recombinant plasmid- human insulin gene combined with bacterial plasmid.
Can be cultured in large amounts, broken, insulin extracted + purified for use.